However, there should be one consistent among all coffee drinkers: what exactly am I ingesting? Coffee can have different impacts on different people, but one common alement associated with heartburn and acid reflux is high acid levels in coffee.
Here at Hevla, we knew this was the case and have strived to ensure at home coffee drinkers do not have to sacrifice taste for their own health. Here are the top things that make Hevla coffee different:
• Hevla is made fresh to order for each batch that is sent out
• Hevla has on average 29% less acid levels than most leading brands of coffee
]]>Coffee is such a ubiquitous beverage these days, almost everyone must have tasted at least one cup in their lifetime. How many of these people, though, truly know what that black liquid inside their cup is all about? We bet a lot of those who’ve been drinking more than one cup a day don’t even know where the coffee story began, or what the beans have been through before they’ve reached the cup. So here’s a brief lesson on the story of coffee.
The Legend
They say it all began with an Ethiopian goatherd in the 9th century. The goatherd, named Kaldi, used to take his goats out to the field each day. These fields had coffee plants growing around, and Kaldi noticed that whenever his goats ate the berries from these plants, they seemed to become more active and did not sleep at night.
Kaldi decided to tell the abbot of a nearby monastery about it. The abbot then took some of the berries and prepared a drink with them. He found out that the drink helped him to stay up during the long periods of evening prayers. He shared the drink with the other monks and soon the story of the coffee spread to the whole region and beyond.
No one can really verify the truth behind this legend, but people accept it for what it is because while it may not be true that a goatherd was the one who discovered coffee, the practice of making a drink out of coffee berries is indeed believed to have begun in Ethiopia and coffee beans were exported from Ethiopia to Yemen.
The Early Coffee Trade
From the early years when coffee was only being traded around the Arab Peninsula among Middle Eastern and African countries, coffee has since scattered its seeds around the world and has been growing for years in other countries in Africa, South and Central America and Asia.
Coffee beans were first taken out of the Middle East in 1670 when a Sufi monk named Baba Budan smuggled seven pieces of seeds to Mysore, India.
Coffee made its way to Europe in 1615 by way of Venice through the active trading activities between Venice and North Africa.
It was the Dutch East India Company that propagated the trade of coffee by importing it in a large scale and they are also responsible for first growing the now famous coffee of Java.
In North America, the advent of coffee was not as successful as it was in Europe. It was only when the Revolutionary War began that coffee became in high demand which pushed the prices up and drove the traders to hoard the product.
Now, Brazil is the top coffee producer in the world with a third of the global production coming from there. Ethiopia, the original source of coffee, now only produces slightly less than five percent of global production.
Coffee Making
Coffee is now grown in the region of the globe called the Coffee Bean Belt. The Coffee Bean Belt is a strip of over 53 countries around the equator between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. This includes the countries that are widely famous for their coffee such as Kenya, Colombia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Yemen, Hawaii and Indonesia. Coffee thrives best in these countries because of the rich land and the tropical climate.
Coffee plants can be quite sensitive. They need a certain balance of rain and sun and shade. The altitude level is also important to the quality of coffee that is produced. Nowadays, coffee seeds are first planted in nurseries to allow them to grow sturdy before they are permanently planted on land.
There are two types of coffee plants. One is the Arabica, which is considered to be the more superior kind, and grows best in higher elevation areas. The second type is the Robusta, grown more for its hardiness and for producing coffee that has a fuller bodied taste. Robusta coffee is able to grow in areas where Arabica cannot grow.
When coffee berries are ripe, they are either handpicked or machine picked. The best way is by handpicking because, although it could be tedious, it ensures the quality of production because only the berries that are in their fully mature stage are picked. Pickers normally work on the trees in a period of 8 to 10 days and the most expert pickers are able to collect up to 200 pounds of coffee berry a day, amounting to about 40 pounds of coffee beans.
Once the berries are picked, they are then either dried out in the sun or fermented in huge water tanks before being dried. Most countries use the dry method especially in areas where water is not in abundance. Fermented coffee beans produce more acidic coffee compared to those that are dried. After this process, the coffee beans are then hulled, polished and sorted before they are exported.
Coffee is roasted in various countries, with many expert roasters being in Europe, thus the popularity of the French and Italian roast variety. Roasting brings the coffee beans to a high temperature of about 400 degrees Fahrenheit, when the caffeol in the beans start to emerge along with its aroma and flavor. At this point coffee is ready for brewing.
Decaffeination and Low-Acid Coffee
Some coffee beans need to undergo more processing prior to roasting in order to come up with different types of coffee such as decaf and low-acid coffee.
Coffee beans are decaffeinated prior to roasting using many methods, the most common being the so-called Swiss process in which the beans are soaked in hot water or steamed and then decaffeinated by using a solvent. Caffeine that is extracted from the beans is purchased by pharmaceutical companies for use in medicines such as analgesics.
Low-acid coffee, meanwhile, is also produced via different methods. Some coffee beans are naturally less acidic than others because of the environmental conditions in which they are grown. Coffee plants grown in lower elevations are typically less acidic than those grown in higher areas. Another reason that some coffee beans are less acidic is in the way they are roasted; beans typically lose their acidity during the roasting process thus beans that are roasted for longer periods, i.e., dark roasts, are less acidic than lighter or medium roasts.
Other coffee beans are specifically treated in order to strip them of some of their acid components. One of the methods is called the Darbovan Improvement Procedure, which is the process used on Hevla coffee. This involves letting the beans go through a high-pressure steaming process to remove their waxy coating. This procedure was developed in Europe over thirty years ago and is a chemical-free method that in no way alters the flavor of the coffee.
Other methods of lowering the acidity of coffee include roasting the beans for a longer period at lower temperatures and using chemical elements to remove the acids.
Some Coffee Trivia
Did you know that when coffee first arrived in Europe in the 1600s it was considered as a Muslim drink and Christians wanted to have it banned so they asked the Pope to evaluate it? Pope Clement VIII tasted the coffee and considered it acceptable to be a Christian beverage, thus allowing it to become more popular in the region.
Did you know that coffeehouses were banned by King Charles II of England in 1675 because he believed that these were the places where rebellious groups convened and conspired against him?
Did you know that the term “cup of Joe” was coined during the World War II when American servicemen called GI Joes were avid coffee drinkers?
Did you know that the Americano type of coffee evolved during the World War II because members of the US Armed forces liked to drink their espresso with water in them to dilute the flavor?
Did you know that Italy, despite being known for great coffee, does not actually grow coffee? The close association of Italy with coffee arises from their love for a great brew and their dedication to produce high quality roasts.
Did you know that despite the popularity of the Mocha as coffee with chocolate syrup, the Mocha Java roast does not actually contain chocolate? Mocha Java is a roast which combines coffee beans from Mocha, Yemen and Java, Indonesia, thus the name.
Did you know that the United States consumes the largest amount of coffee which is estimated at over 400 million cups in a day?
Did you know that you can still drink coffee even when you have acidity related problems or have been diagnosed with GERD? Low-acid coffee was specially designed to allow people to drink their favorite beverage without experiencing stomach upsets, heartburns and other symptoms related to GERD.
]]>Recently, though, there has been a growing variant of coffee that is supposed to address this problem. Low-acid coffees made by specialty brands have been popping up in the market to provide the much needed relief for people who are sensitive to the high acid content of coffee.
Basics of acidity
Acidity is typically measured by an element’s pH level. The base neutral pH level is 7.0 which is the pH level of water; that means it is neither acidic nor alkaline. The lower the pH level, the more acidic the food is and the higher the pH level, the food is considered to be more alkaline. The scale of pH levels is logarithmic, so that a 6.0 pH level is 10 times more acidic than a 7.0 pH level, while a 5.0 pH level is 100 times more acidic than 6.0 pH.
Cola beverages have a pH level of 2.0, while lemonade and orange juice come in at a pH level of 3.0, which means these drinks are highly acidic.
Acidity of coffee
The acidity of coffee could vary depending on the type of bean or the location where it was grown, the roasting process and the brewing method.
Coffee beans that are grown in highlands are generally considered to be more acidic, while those grown in lower elevation areas are less acidic.
Coffee that is grown on volcanic soil like those in Hawaii and Indonesia are also more acidic. The manner of picking the beans and the treatment of these before roasting also affect the acidity of coffee. Coffee cherries tend to lose some acid as they mature so a cherry that is picked before full maturity will be more acidic than those picked when they are at their most ripe and red stage.
The treatment of coffee beans after they are picked also affects the acidity level. The dry method in which the beans are dried in the sun yields a less acidic coffee compared to the wet method wherein the beans are fermented before drying.
There are also other special treatments that are specifically designed to strip the coffee of its acids such as high-pressure steaming and slow or interrupted roasting.
As coffee beans are roasted, they lose some of their acidity. Therefore, the darker the roast, the less acidic the coffee is. However, the trade off here is that it gains a more bitter taste as the beans are toasted and burnt.
There are certain brewing methods that could lower the acidity level of coffee. The most popular method is the cold brew wherein the coffee is soaked in cold water to remove some of its acid content.
The typical acidity of a normal-roast coffee can fall within the range of 4.5 to 4.9 pH level.
For many coffee lovers and those who consider themselves as coffee connoisseurs, the acidity of coffee is probably the most important aspect, comparable to the bouquet of wine, that allows them to distinguish the quality of the coffee and to discern the various notes in flavor that reveal the true characteristics of the coffee.
Choosing a low-acid coffee
As mentioned, the typical normal-roast coffee has a pH level of 4.5 to 4.9. But at these levels, some people can be sensitive to the acids so that they experience acid reflux, heartburns and stomach upsets after drinking coffee.
To provide a solution to this problem, some coffee companies like Hevla have decided to come up with a low-acid coffee that will allow coffee lovers to enjoy their favorite brew without sacrificing their comfort and health.
There are two options in choosing coffee that is low-acid. There are those that are naturally low in acid because they are grown in the high elevation areas and those that have been roasted dark, and there are low acid coffee that have been specially treated to remove their acids.
Coffee that has been grown in low-lying areas should be less acidic. Some of these may include those from the flatlands Brazil or the monsoon lowlands of Sumatra. Other areas that produce coffee with light acidity would be at the Ivory Coast of Africa and in India.
Roasting is the process of bringing out the flavor and aroma of coffee, and along with these, some of the acids of coffee are also extracted during the roasting process. Like previously said, dark roast coffee are less acidic than light or medium roast. Dark roasted coffee beans, aside from their almost black color, are usually shiny with oil, so you can definitely identify them by just looking. If they have been pre-packaged, watch out for the names Espresso, Italian, French and Continental on the packaging as these are the dark-roast variety of coffee.
Finally, there are coffees that have undergone a special process that is specifically designed to take away its acidity to some extent. Presently, there are not too many low-acid coffee brands in the market, however they seem to be growing to a significant number. These types of coffee are usually prepared and sold by specialty shops and brands that cater specifically to the low-acid coffee offering. Low-acid coffee contains all the goodness of coffee and its many health benefits, without the burnt flavor of overly roasted coffee.
How low-acid coffee is made
There are three known techniques used to achieve low-acid coffee prior to brewing.
The first one is by way of high-pressure steam that strips the coffee beans of its waxy coating that contains the acid. This is called the Darbovan Improvement Procedure which was developed in Europe more than three decades ago. The steaming procedure followed by vacuuming is done prior to roasting. It is an all-natural process that does not include the use of chemicals. This is how Hevla Coffee makes its coffee low-acid. This process allows Hevla to remove about 70 irritants from coffee that cause stomach upsets without affecting the taste of coffee.
Another method that is also all-natural is by roasting the beans slowly at lower temperatures to remove the acidity but prevent the beans from burning.
Other companies, on the other hand, remove the acids from coffee by using chemical and acids. These result in a slightly medicinal aftertaste in the coffee.
Benefits of low-acid coffee
Coffee has been discovered to have many properties that are highly beneficial to the human body. Its richness in antioxidants are proclaimed to be able to ward off several major illnesses like cancer, heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, cirrhosis of the liver, Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes. It also has other benefits like promoting weight loss, improving cognitive functions and physical performance during fitness workouts and body building trainings.
Despite all these benefits, though, some people who are sensitive to coffee’s high acid content suffer from its side effects of heartburn, stomach upset and acid reflux. It is especially painful for people who have been diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease, or more commonly known as GERD because their already sensitive tissues cannot tolerate the acidic conditions that would be otherwise normal for other people.
The good news is that low-acid coffee is able to eliminate these acid-related problems while still maintaining the delicious flavors of coffee and delivering all of its healthful benefits. So if you’re one with a sensitive stomach, go ahead and indulge in your most favorite beverage – the low-acid version, that is.
]]>Research studies have shown that, contrary to the many misconceptions about it, coffee is actually a healthy drink that could ward off many of the world’s major illnesses. And the reason for this is the abundance of antioxidants that is found in coffee. Because coffee is a prominent part of a typical person’s diet, it has become a very important source of antioxidants, which is why much focus has been given to it by researchers. To better understand why coffee does what it does to the body, here is a list of the major antioxidants in coffee and the benefits they bring to the human body. Polyphenols
Polyphenols, also called flavonoids, are compounds that come in many forms. Some of them are called, flavonols, hydroxycinnamic acids, resveratrol, and anthocyanidins. Polyphenols are present in many types of plants such as berries, apples, red cabbage, tea, broccoli, and of course coffee. Most of the anti-oxidants in coffee are really a type of polyphenol and these include chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, methylpridinium, and much, much more.
Polyphenols have been discovered to have antioxidative effects on the body, which mean they repair cell damage caused by toxins and free radicals, and also prevent further damage. Because of this, polyphenols help to decelerate the process of ageing and hold up the appearance of ageing symptoms like wrinkles and dry, brittle skin.
While there have been no conclusive researches done on the actual benefits of polyphenols, they are believed to have strong anti-carcinogenic properties that help in preventing or reducing the risks of several types of cancers. Their anti-inflammatory and immune boosting properties also help to further enhance the process of fighting off cancer cells.
Chlorogenic Acid
One of the most important polyphenol found in coffee is called chlorogenic acid. Chlorogenic acid is a derivative of quinic and cinnamic acids. It is also abundant in fruits such as pineapple, strawberries, and blueberries.
A main benefit to be derived from chlorogenic acid is its ability to promote colon and liver health by enhancing their clean-up processes through regulated bowel movements and flushing out of toxins. It also protects both colon and liver from cancer by inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells.
Another advantage posed by chlorogenic acid is its role in weight loss. It hinders the release of glucose in the blood stream so that the body instead uses fats and calories from food to create energy. It is also responsible for coffee’s thermogenic property in which it increases the rate of metabolism to burn more fat and calories.
Because it holds back on glucose, chlorogenic acid is also beneficial in regulating blood sugar levels and preventing the onset of diabetes. In addition, it also helps in reducing fat and carbohydrate storage in the body because it encourages the body to burn these instead of glycogen as a source of energy. Chlorogenic acid has also been related to increasing sensitivity to insulin.
To a certain extent, chlorogenic acid helps in regulating blood pressure levels. This is due to its ability to regenerate vitamin E which reduces the levels of plasma in the blood thereby promoting improved blood circulation.
Caffeic Acid
Caffeic acid is a natural phytochemical present in all plants but most abundant in fruits like apples and pears, herbs such as thyme, basil and oregano, and vegetables such as artichoke. Although its name is similar to caffeine, caffeic acid and caffeine are in no way related to each other.
Aside from its antioxidative effects, caffeic acid has been discovered to be beneficial to the respiratory system particularly in limiting the spread of a certain type of pneumonia within the body and reducing its inflammatory effects.
It has also been related to the regulation of blood pressure and blood sugar levels, the prevention or delay in symptoms of neurodegenerative illness like Parkinson’s disease, and the prevention of liver cancer.
Caffeic acid, along with chlorogenic acid, is also said to be able to prevent the progression of Hepatitis B within the body because of its anti-viral properties.
Ferulic Acid
Ferulic acid is another phytochemical found in coffee and most other plants, which has characteristics similar to caffeic acid. In fact, it can be found in almost the same sources as caffeic acid, namely, apples, artichokes, and whole grains.
Ferulic acid, just like all other antioxidants, neutralizes the effects of free radicals particularly ultraviolet rays. It is said that the potency of ferulic acid as an antioxidant even gets stronger the more exposure there is to UV rays.
It also plays a role in reducing blood pressure and bad cholesterol level, thereby reducing the risks of heart ailments.
Ferulic acid also revealed a beneficial effect on diminishing menopausal symptoms, specifically hot flushes. Other benefits to be gained from ferulic acid include the prevention of bone degeneration, cancer and diabetes.
Methylpyridinium
Methylpyridinium is an antioxidant compound that is unique to coffee because it only arises during the roasting process as a byproduct of the chemical synthesis that occurs to another element of coffee called trigonelline. It is especially most abundant in darker roasts of coffee because the amount of methylpyridinium increases the longer the coffee is roasted.s
Methylpyridinium is an important aspect of coffee because of its anti-carcinogenic characteristics that enhances coffee’s ability to ward off cancer.
Methylpyridinium is also good for the digestive system because it prevents the stomach from producing too much acid that could eventually cause damage to the body.
Aside from having methylpyridinium, some types of coffee also provide further benefit of being gentle on the stomach, namely low-acid coffee. Low-acid coffee has been stripped of some of its acid via a natural method of high pressure steaming and vacuuming before the roasting process. This reduces the amount of irritants in coffee and effectively lowers its acidic level.
Therefore, to enjoy fully the benefits of coffee without experiencing discomfort due to its high acid content, it is highly recommended to switch to low-acid coffee. This is especially best for people who have acidity issues like heartburn, acid reflux and other stomach related problems.
These are just some of the important antioxidants found in coffee that have been covered by plenty of research that back up their proposed benefits to the human body. So before you listen to people who tell you that coffee is bad for your health, i.e., it stunts growth, causes ulcers and cancers and kidney disorders, it is worthwhile to read more about these facts first before kicking out the coffee habit.
Like most experts and nutritionists would say nowadays, coffee can be both healthy and detrimental. It all depends on the amount you consume on a day to day basis. So just like everything else, coffee has to be taken in moderation. You can’t just drink more coffee to increase the amount of anti-oxidants in your body because too much coffee can also become hazardous to your health. Up to six cups of coffee though, is said to be acceptable. So drink up and load up on all the antioxidants that could help you maintain a healthy life.
]]>Every day, millions of people around the globe wake up to the warming scent of their favorite morning beverage, coffee. As many researchers have reported, coffee is no longer the villain that it is professed to be; it has several healthful benefits. However, once people start adding things like sugar and cream or milk, and worse yet flavored syrups like chocolate, the benefits that could have been gained from coffee become negated. This is why experts suggest that in order to obtain the maximum health benefits of coffee it is best taken bare of all the add-ons, that is to say, it is best to drink black coffee.
The Goodness of Coffee
In the past, people were greatly discouraged from drinking coffee because it was supposedly bad for the health. Recently, though, a lot of research studies have focused on coffee and its real effect on the human body, and it has been discovered that coffee in itself has many health benefits because it is rich in antioxidants.
The antioxidants in coffee called polyphenols help in warding off or delaying the onset of major diseases such as various types of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, Parkinson’s disease, kidney disorders, diabetes and many more. Antioxidants also help delay the ageing process by assisting in repairing cell damage caused by toxins and free radicals and preventing further damage, thus it has been known to increase life span among coffee drinkers.
Aside from this, some of the other properties of coffee have been known to aid in weight loss, prevent dental caries, promote healthy digestion, improve cognitive functions and enhance performance during workouts and other physical activities. Unknown to many, most headache and pain relieving medicines also contains caffeine because it enhances the effectiveness of these.
Another breakthrough study with regard to coffee is that it helps to ward off depression, particularly among women.
Why Black? Black with no sugar is the best way to drink coffee, so say experts and there are many reasons for this.
First of all, coffee taken alone without all the extras translates to lower calories and zero fat, so that alone should be enough reason to hold back on the sugar and cream.
Second, because black coffee does not have the added burdens of sugar and milk or cream, it is easier for the body to process it and absorb its good nutrients more quickly. The antioxidants in coffee are able to speedily get into the cells to do their job of repairing the body and preventing illnesses.
This quick absorption also allows the body to experience the energizing effect of coffee sooner. This means that within fifteen minutes of drinking coffee, the body will immediately feel more vitalized and headaches and any other pains will also be relieved sooner.
Black Coffee and Weight Loss
Aside from black coffee having less calories and no fat compared to coffee with extras, there are other reasons for why black coffee is a good beverage for those seeking to lose unwanted weight.
Caffeine in coffee helps to increase the rate of metabolism thereby boosting the body’s capacity to burn fat and calories. This is a process called thermogenesis in which the body produces more heat and energy by burning the fat and calories.
In addition to this, coffee also has the capacity to suppress appetite by stimulating the body’s production of a peptide hormone called cholecystokinin or CCK. CCK works by delaying the body’s process of emptying the stomach and also by bringing about feelings of fullness during a meal.
A third theory about black coffee’s role in weight loss is related to its diuretic effect, which is still questioned by most other experts. Proponents say that coffee is a diuretic and so increases the amount of fluids flushed out by the body through urine, thus causing a loss of weight. Critics of this proposition however say that coffee does not really make the body lose too much fluid because the amount of water taken along with coffee only makes up for the amount that is being flushed out in the urine.
Having a Pre-Workout Fix
A more recent popular proposition is to drink a cup of black coffee before a workout in order to enhance weight loss during the physical exertion. Why is this so?
Coffee’s ability to increase the rate of metabolism is enhanced when it is consumed before working out, so the body burns even more calories and loses more weight. Coffee also enhances the body’s fat burning mechanisms during work out making the body burn fat instead of the body’s store of glycogen which could lead to muscle weakness.
Another scientific explanation to coffee’s positive effect on the body during workout is its being a so-called ergogenic acid. What coffee does is that it raises the nitric oxide level in the blood so that more blood flows into the muscles providing more energy and endurance allowing the body to work out harder and for longer periods of time.
Caffeine in black coffee also improves concentration allowing a person to focus more on the physical activity making the person more productive in the workout.
Finally, coffee continues until the end of the workout by minimizing pain and soreness in the muscles. Once again, this allows the body to work out harder and longer.
If you have acidity problems but wish to experience the benefits of coffee in your workout, don’t fret just yet. The advent of low-acid coffee has made it possible for people with acidity problems such as heartburns, acid reflux and GERD to continue drinking coffee despite the discomforts of these health issues. Low-acid coffee like Hevla coffee, does not diminish the effects of regular black coffee but instead delivers the same results with the benefit of not experiencing symptoms of high levels of acidity.
Achieving the Right Brew
A lot of people hesitate to drink black coffee because they say it is too bitter; this is the very reason people add sugar and milk to their coffee – to mask its supposedly bitter taste. But the thing is, coffee that is done properly need not taste so bad. Here are a few tips to improving the taste of your black coffee.
First things first, the type of coffee used and the brewing method are the major factors that contribute to the taste of coffee. To make a good cup of coffee that suits your liking, it is highly suggested that you brew your own cup so you can choose the beans that you will use and prepare it especially to your liking.
Arabica beans are claimed to be the best kinds of coffee beans around, more superior to the other variety which is Robusta. However, within the Arabica variety are even more varieties depending on the country they are grown and the specific locations could also affect the taste of coffee. To know which coffee suits your palate, it is important to have a taste of them first. And this is where the importance of being used to black coffee comes in because you have to drink it black in order to distinguish the different flavors and subtle notes in every type of coffee.
The other important element that goes into a good cup is the means of brewing the coffee. There are various coffee brewing facilities, which, expectedly, you would have at least one at home: drip, espresso machine, stovetop Moka pot, French press and Scandinavian boiling. Each brewing method requires a different technique, with amount of coffee per serving, specific brewing time and water temperatures that should be learned if you wish to brew your coffee correctly.
We’re not saying that you need to be a coffee connoisseur to achieve a good cup of black coffee, but learning the basics would definitely help in obtaining black coffee that is not too bitter to the taste. Once you have found out the right brew for yourself, there’s no need to learn anything else. All you have to do is sit back, relax and enjoy your good ol’ cup. Plus, of course, reap all the healthful benefits that black coffee has to offer.
]]>Myth #1 To keep coffee fresh, it should be placed in the freezer or the fridge
Coffee that you drink daily should never be stored in the freezer as it causes condensation whenever you take it in and out of the freezer which will get moisture into the coffee and ruin its flavor. Instead, coffee should be kept in an opaque air-tight container and placed on a cool, dry place like a pantry shelf.
It is, however, acceptable to place coffee in the freezer if you intend to keep this for longer periods. To keep coffee in the freezer, it should be wrapped in air-tight resealable bags with the least amount of air possible. Once you take the coffee out of the freezer, you need to remember not to place it back and instead keep it in your pantry.
Keeping coffee in the refrigerator is an even bigger no-no. Because coffee is porous, it can quickly absorb moisture and odor in the refrigerator which can seriously degrade the quality of your coffee.
Myth #2 Coffee can cause hypertension
Contrary to the popular misconception that coffee can lead to hypertension, research studies have actually shown that there is no significant relation between coffee and hypertension. Although coffee does raise the blood pressure level to a slight degree after it is consumed, this is only for a brief period and in the long run, coffee actually serves to reduce the risks of cardiovascular diseases.
In Japan, a study among men who drank coffee regularly showed that the relationship between coffee and blood pressure levels are inversely proportional. Another study among about 400,000 individuals also presented evidence that daily consumption of coffee did not increase blood pressure levels. A third study that involved 27,000 women even went so far as to say that women who drink up to three cups of coffee daily were 24 percent less likely to acquire cardiovascular illness.
Myth #3 Coffee causes insomnia
Yes, it is true that the caffeine in coffee can cause insomnia, but this effect of coffee widely varies among individuals depending on their sensitivity to caffeine. Although coffee can give you a boost of energy and keep you wide awake, this effect is only momentary as the body has the ability to rid itself of coffee quickly. It is estimated that within eight to ten hours of drinking coffee, 75% of it will have already left the body. So if your tolerance for caffeine is quite low it is best to have your last cup of coffee about ten hours before you go to sleep. But if you belong to the average group of coffee drinkers, drinking coffee six hours before bedtime should present no problem with regard to achieving a good night’s sleep.
Myth #4 There is more caffeine in dark roast coffee than in light roast
This is a widely held belief of coffee that is a real misconception. Unknown to many, coffee loses caffeine during the roasting process, so what this means is that the longer it is roasted, i.e., the darker it is, the less caffeine the coffee contains.
Myth#5 Espresso contains less caffeine than drip coffee
This has been a much-oft asked question and the answers could be quite contradicting. In general, a shot of espresso has less caffeine in it compared to a mug of coffee.
One of the things to consider is that espresso is made of a darker roast of coffee so, as mentioned in Myth #4, it should have less caffeine.
However, if you compare things apples to apples, or to make it more fitting, mugs to mugs, the concentration of caffeine in serving of espresso is greater than that in the same serving of drip coffee. The only reason people would say espresso contains less caffeine is that it is usually taken in smaller servings compared to drip coffee.
Myth #6 Coffee makes you fat
Again, another question that has been asked too often with varying replies.
Coffee alone should not be fattening as it contains virtually zero fats and very minimal calories. However, when you consider all the add-ons people typically put into coffee, then you’ll definitely see how coffee consumption can lead to increased weight.
Some reports have said that drinking black coffee can actually lead to weight loss, to a certain extent. First of all, coffee has a thermogenic effect that means it stimulates the body to generate heat and burn more calories. Another way coffee can aid in losing weight is by suppressing the appetite, while a third is because of its diuretic effect whereby it increases the amount of urine passed thus the body loses more water and a bit of weight.
Myth #7 Coffee cures a hangover
Coffee may jolt a drunk awake, but in no way does it take away the effects of a hangover, namely a bad headache and severe dehydration. When a person gets drunk, the hangover is usually due to dehydration caused by too much alcohol in the blood, and drinking coffee may just worsen it since it has a diuretic effect.
Furthermore, drinking coffee after an over indulgence in alcohol is in fact more dangerous because research has shown that the sobering effect of coffee is only psychological but the real effects of drunkenness is still there, so when a person tries to drive thinking he has sobered up, it heightens the risks of getting into an accident.
Myth #8 Coffee stunts your growth
This is probably the biggest misconception of all regarding coffee which is most likely linked to earlier reports suggesting that coffee causes osteoporosis and lowered bone mass. However, researchers have said that there has been no evidence linking coffee consumption to height, so there is no need to worry about this effect of coffee on children. But, and there is a big BUT mind you, coffee consumption in children should be limited to minimal amounts because kids have lower tolerance of caffeine and could result in magnified effects ulof hyperactivity and sleep deprivation.
Myth #9 Italy produces the best coffee in the world There are many cafes all over Italy, but this does not mean that Italy produces the best coffee because in truth Italy does not grow coffee since its climate is not suitable for it. The only reason people associate coffee with Italy is their love for coffee and their commitment to obtaining the best quality brew.
Myth #10 Coffee will give you ulcers
Because of the high acid content of coffee, it has been commonly mistaken for a cause of stomach ulcers. However, experts have said that there is no know evidence that coffee causes ulcers and that ulcers are in fact caused by a specific bacteria known as Helicobacter pylori and this is treated by antibiotics.
It is important to note, though, that coffee consumption may pose symptoms similar to having stomach ulcers and may also aggravate an already existing ulcer, so cutting back on coffee could potentially ease these discomforts.
The good news, however, is that there is now a growing availability of low-acid coffee that can address the problems of people with acidity problems. Unlike regular coffee, low-acid coffee does not cause a person to experience heartburns, acid reflux and other gastric problems. Drinking low-acid coffee, therefore, will be the answer to the misconception we have mentioned – coffee consumption does not cause stomach ulcers.
]]>The Science Behind The Alkaline Diet
A study made by microbiologist Dr. Robert Young presented that the body’s cellular and blood fluids has a normal pH level of about 7.365 and that the body works hard at maintaining it at this level. The study further showed that the food that people eat greatly affects this pH level.
The study tells us that the typical diet these days composed of plenty of sugar, meat, dairy, processed grains, and alcohol is very highly acidic. When a body is very acidic, residues form on the blood that the liver and kidney have a hard time flushing out. This is why a lot of chronic illnesses have cropped up like Type II diabetes, liver and kidney diseases, and the like.
If a body’s PH level suddenly changes due to many factors including diet and stress, the body tries to put it back to normal by calling on the alkaline minerals in the bones and the blood. This process then leads to the depletion of such essential minerals as calcium, potassium, magnesium and sodium which could then lead to illnesses such as osteoporosis, kidney stones, ovarian cysts, and even the common cold and flu.
In order to rectify this, the doctor and other nutritionists suggest that people should go for a slightly more alkaline diet that includes mostly vegetables, legumes and whole fibers.
The Benefits of An Alkaline Diet
Before we delve into the benefits of an alkaline diet, here is a discussion of what happens to the body with a highly acidic diet.
Too much acidity in the blood brought about by a highly acidic diet can cause red blood cells to undergo a biological transformation that turns them into yeast and bacteria which is detrimental to the body. Aside from this, the presence of too much acid also builds up into toxins that can cause even more harm to the body.
To get rid of these toxins, the body has to work double time and use up its store of good nutrients which just aggravate the acidity problems of the body as it loses more of its nutrients and yet gains more acids, bacteria and toxins with the constant barrage of an acidic diet. In time, when this situation is not corrected, the body gets really depleted and this manifests as stress and illnesses.
When a person takes on a healthier diet using the alkaline method, this aids the body in getting rid of all the bad elements within, namely the toxins and bacteria, and restores the store of good nutrients. People who have been on the alkaline diet for a significant amount of time claim that they have been feeling significantly better since they started and have manifested the following benefits from the alkaline diet:
What Goes Into The Alkaline Diet?
We all know that consuming more fruits and vegetable and less of processed foods is truly the healthier lifestyle for us, whether it’s within the alkaline diet or not, so the alkaline diet merely reinforces this fact.
As mentioned, the alkaline diet proposes that a person’s diet should be composed of 70-80 percent alkaline foods. So what are these alkaline foods? Here are some of the highly proposed foods to include in the diet.
Fresh green leafy vegetables are top of the list when it comes to engaging in the Alkaline diet and these include the following: Brussels sprouts, spinach, kale, parsley, lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, chard, arugula, alfalfa, watercress, asparagus and wheatgrass.
Other vegetables to include in the diet are: carrots, green beans, cucumber, beetroot, avocado, garlic, bell pepper, leeks and ginger
Nuts and seeds are also considered as alkaline foods and these include almonds, flax seed, and the like.
Foods rich in essential fatty acids are also highly recommended in the alkaline diet.
Fruits should be taken in moderation because most fruits are rich in sugar, however these fruits that are low in sugar are said to have alkaline benefits for the body: lemon, lime, grapefruit, tomato, coconut and, to some extent, watermelon
The alkaline diet also suggests limiting, or better yet avoiding, the consumption of foods that are highly acidic. These types of foods include the following: meats, dairy products, processed grains in bread, sugar in the form of cakes, soda, ice cream and chocolate, alcoholic beverages and even coffee.
Taking On the Alkaline Diet Challenge
As in most diet methods, getting the body into the right mode can be the most difficult task. One cannot just plunge the body into a totally new regimen without experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms. And for most of the population who have been indulging in a highly acidic diet for many years, this would be a very tasking project.
So, the key to getting the body into the alkaline diet is to do it slowly and to cut back in moderation. For instance, everyone drinks coffee every day, most of us drink coffee more than once a day and it has become a go to beverage to keep us on the move throughout the hectic pace of our lives. It will be definitely very hard to let go of coffee. So instead of taking it out of your diet, why not switch to coffee that is low in acid. Low-acid coffee like Hevla coffee, has become more widely available in the market these days and can be easily obtained, so by just doing the switch you have already taken one step towards a more alkaline diet.
Here are more ways of easing the body into the alkaline diet.
First off is to increase the body’s alkaline levels through hydration. Water is the main means for the body to flush out toxins so drinking more water every day will help rid the body of acids and toxins and improve its alkalinity. What’s more, the alkalinity of water can even be raised by adding certain elements like lemon juice. Although many would think that lemon is acidic, the effect that it has on the body once it has been metabolized is actually to alkalize it, so adding a bit of lemon juice in drinking water is one major step in improving the alkaline levels of the body.
The second step to take is to increase the amount of alkaline foods that is consumed daily, that means eating more vegetables and whole grains. If it is too difficult to get rid of acidic foods like dairy and meat from your diet, just mixing in more of alkaline foods can do many wonders for the body. This would involve eating a more balanced meal which to any person regardless of being on the alkaline diet or not is truly the healthiest thing to do.
Once the body has gotten used to the presence of more alkaline foods, the next step is to slowly cut back on the consumption of acidic foods. We are not saying that you should totally cut all these acidic foods out of your daily meals, however, eating just the right portions of these foods will ensure that you maintain the proper nutrients that you can gain from them without radically increasing the acid levels in the body.
Just as in taking on any new diet, it is highly recommended that one should consult a physician first before diving headlong into it. Any pre-existing medical conditions with medication may severely affect the body with a new diet.
]]>For most of us, coffee is just a beverage we drink in the morning to jolt us awake and give us the necessary boost of energy we need to last a busy day. Unknown to us, whenever we drink coffee we actually do more for our body than just keep ourselves on our feet.
A lot of studies have been devoted recently towards understanding the effects that coffee has on the human body, and most of these studies have only kept discovering that coffee is not as bad as it was thought to be, but actually provides many health benefits.
The Role of Antioxidants
Research studies have found out that coffee is rich in antioxidants, and it is the top source of antioxidants in a typical American diet. Antioxidants are compounds found mainly in plants that can help repair and prevent further cell damage caused by free radicals in the human body. Coffee extracted from green beans of the Arabica plant are said to have highest concentrations of antioxidants.
Antioxidants found in coffee are polyphenols; these are the same types of antioxidants found in berries, honey and vegetables like broccoli and cabbage.
One of the important antioxidants in coffee is methylpyridinium which has possible anti-carcinogenic benefits. This is one of the reasons why coffee has been found to reduce the risks of various types of cancer, particularly liver cancer. Methylpyridinium is developed in coffee during the roasting process as an offshoot of the chemical reaction of trigonelline.
Aside from reducing the risk of cancer, antioxidants found in coffee also have the potential of reducing the risks of other chronic illnesses like Type II diabetes, Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular diseases and more!
Coffee Loves Your Heart
Despite many years of flak that coffee has received pertaining to its effects on the cardiovascular system, it has recently been negated by new studies that show that coffee does not actually cause a significant increase in blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Although it is true that coffee does indeed raise blood pressure levels, this only occurs for a very brief period after the coffee is consumed and the longer term effect is that it helps to lower it. A study in Japan showed that coffee consumption had an inverse relation with blood pressure among men.
Moreover, antioxidants in coffee ease the effects of ageing on blood vessels and lower the risks of cardiovascular illnesses related to ageing, thereby also increasing longevity. Polyphenols, in particular, are known to have the effect of lowering activated blood platelet levels preventing blood clots that could lead to stroke.
Meanwhile, research has also shown that coffee does not lead to increased cholesterol levels when filtered during the brewing process. Using paper filter to brew coffee, instead of the popular filter-free methods of espresso, French press and Scandinavian boiling, rids it of cafestol which is a compound known to increase LDL or bad cholesterol.
Purging Your Liver
The benefits of coffee are greatly seen in its effect on the liver. Primary results of studies have shown that coffee has the ability to protect the liver from developing cirrhosis, particularly caused by overconsumption of alcohol. The findings showed that people who consume up to four cups of coffee regularly were at lower risk for contracting liver cirrhosis.
It has been pointed out that the presence of a compound called paraxanthine slows down the growth of tissues that lead to fibrosis and cirrhosis. Other elements in coffee that can protect the liver from diseases such as Hepatitis include chlorogenic and caffeic acids which have anti-viral properties that prevent Hepatitis B virus from progressing in the body.
Coffee for Weight Loss
One of the latest breakthrough news regarding coffee is that it can aid in losing weight, specifically when consumed black. There are different explanations to how coffee does this. First of all, coffee is an appetite suppressant so drinking it will make one eat less, thereby leading to weight loss. A second rationale is that coffee is a diuretic so the constant flushing out of water from the body can cause a decline in weight. Thirdly, coffee increases metabolism causing the body to burn more fat.
Another explanation is that coffee, which contains chlorogenic acid, has the characteristic of slowing down the production of glucose within the body so that the body is able to process them more thoroughly and prevent the development of new fat cells. This is most evident and effective when coffee is consumed after a meal, since it also encourages the body to generate more gastric juices for improved digestion.
Of course, it is important to note that for coffee to be truly effective in helping lose weight it has to be taken without all the added components of cream and sugar as these can just cancel out the benefits to be gained from drinking coffee. This is why only black coffee is seen as a valuable means to achieving weight loss, and evidently it has to be done along with a good diet and regular exercise.
Bye Bye Blues with Coffee
There have been many conflicting observations with regard to coffee and depression. Some experts say that although coffee can boost a person’s energy, it is only for a brief period and the longer term effect of coffee can lead towards depression.
However, a very recent study showed that coffee has the capacity to ward off depression among women. The study, which involved female nurses and covered a period of ten years, discovered that the more coffee a woman consumed the less risk there was of experiencing depression. This study was specifically directed at women because more women have been diagnosed with depression compared to men.
The Forget Me Not Drink
Another important discovery about coffee is that it can push back the onset of dementia as a symptom of Alzheimer’s disease. This is attributed to a component in coffee that is yet to be identified and further studied. The study showed that caffeinated coffee induces the body to produce higher blood levels of a certain growth factor which is linked to better memory.
A separate study also showed that drinking coffee three to five cups of coffee during middle age can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease during old age. This is also probably linked to the fact that coffee boosts cognitive function which is strongly related to Alzheimer’s disease.
Live Longer with Coffee
Even though coffee has several side effects, the benefits that can be reaped from drinking coffee regularly are enough to outweigh all these negativities. Because of coffee’s huge capacity to reduce the risks of numerous diseases, it is but natural that coffee can also lead to longer life spans and a better quality of life as well. A 13-year study of over 400,000 individuals discovered that men who drank two or more cups of coffee a day were 10 percent less likely to be dead within that period, while women who drank up to six cups of coffee were 15 percent less likely to have died.
Before Diving Into Coffee
These are just some of the advantages that can be gained from having coffee in your regular diet. More studies are presenting greater evidence that coffee can indeed be a healthful beverage for as long as this is consumed moderately, that is to say, no greater than 4 cups in a day. Coffee, as we all know, does have some negative side effects like sleeping disorders, heart palpitations and increased anxiety.
Another major side effect to drinking coffee is increase in acidity. But thankfully, there is a solution – low-acid coffee. With the advent of low-acid coffee like Hevla, it is now possible for people with acidity problems, such as heartburn and acid reflux, to indulge in their favorite morning and afternoon beverage without the worries of experiencing discomfort. Low-acid coffee is probably the best news to come to people who suffer from acidity problems, particularly those with GERD, because now they know they don’t have to give up their coffee! Cheers to a healthy you!
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