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Earlier this year, we shared a chemistry hacks post about tea. All the scientific reasons tea is really good for you! Almost every day readers ask me about coffee too. They want to know is coffee good for your health?
Today, I want to share the scientific truth about coffee.
Perhaps I am a bit biased, but coffee is one of my favorite chemicals to research. In fact, there are some surprising scientific truths about coffee. So, is coffee good for you??
I didn’t start drinking coffee until I was close to 24 years old. My husband and I had just moved back to Texas, and he had just gone through a very serious surgery (read about our story here).
Since I had taken a few years off from college to take care of him, it was a little bit of a shock coming back to school full time. One day I woke up and was craving coffee out of the blue. I started drinking a cup every morning, and have enjoyed it since!
There have been a few times over the years I have stopped drinking coffee and tested out if it effects my rheumatoid arthritis. You can find the results of that below.
But first, let’s do a full chemistry hacks post on coffee for your health.
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Coffee beans come from a coffee plant. Coffee plants are covered in coffee “cherries” that really look like little cherries. Inside the cherry is the coffee bean. It’s really a pretty plant!
The chemistry of a coffee bean comes into play when the coffee bean is roasted. When coffee beans are roasted, a chemical reaction occurs through the Maillard reaction. This reaction is responsible for the brown color of coffee beans.
Maillard reactions occur between an amino acid and a reducing sugar in the presence of heat. This is also the same reaction that causing toast to brown, self-tanning products to brown, and caramel to brown from milk and sugar.
Guess what? It was a chemist who discovered this reaction. It is named after the chemist Louis-Camille Maillard who investigated it in the 1910s.
Chemist come up with the coolest stuff! Check out this other list of fantastic things chemist have invented.
After a coffee bean is roasted, this is where all the chemicals come into play. The Maillard reaction turns a few compounds into hundreds of compounds.
These compounds include many acids like citric acid, acetic acid, and malic acid. It also has aldehydes, pyrazines, and furans. Remember this post about cinnamon? I talk about aldehydes in that too (it’s responsible for scent)!
Healthy Compounds Found in Coffee
The roasting process also creates some vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are very powerful. All fresh ground coffee beans will contain all these elements. Remember that “green” coffee beans (beans not yet roasted) will contain the highest level of chlorogenic acid. Chlorogenic acid has known health benefits. You can read more about that on webmd. The benefits below are going to be for normal coffee roasts.
Vitamins
Vitamin B12, B3, and B5 are present which are very beneficial vitamins for your health. Here is an article about the importance of B vitamins.
Antioxidants
Caffeic acid is present in coffee beans. According to this chemical research, caffeic acid has huge anti-inflammatory properties. It is also an active component of propolis in bee hives. Did you read this post I did about raw honey and inflammation? This was a key reason honey helps with inflammation.
Another antioxidant present in roasted beans is Melanoidins. These antioxidants also have great anti-inflammatory properties.
Minerals
Coffee also contains potassium, manganese, magnesium, and niacin.
Benefits of Coffee for your Health
With all these healthy compounds present in coffee, there are many beneficial reasons to drink coffee.
Lowered Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease
There has been research of this for years now. Caffeine in general can protect your brain and keep it functioning properly. Studies show that consuming coffee can ward off the effects of Alzheimer’s. The National Library of Medicine has some great research on this.
Lowered Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
The chemicals in coffee like caffeine, acids, and magnesium all affect glucose metabolism.
Longevity
More and more scientific research has linked coffee drinkers with more longevity. I can attest to this one! My Grammy is almost 88 years old. Up until last year, she pretty much drank black coffee all day. She had to stop for blood pressure reasons, but she has been relatively disease free even in her upper 80s. There are many interesting research articles on this subject I have read in scientific journals too.
Liver Functions
Studies show that coffee consumption helps with liver functions especially warding off liver cancer.
Depression
Caffeine in general has been linked to a decrease in depression. This study shared by Medical News today showed people who suffered from depression actually saw a decrease in symptoms when they increase their coffee intake.
When I studied medicinal chemistry in collage, we learned about how caffeine effected the serotonin and dopamine levels. It can help facilitate the transmission of these neurons.
Muscle Recovery
If you browse the labels on workout foods, especially pre and post workout mixes, many contain high levels of caffeine. The reasons for this is caffeine aides in muscle recovery. Coffee is the best source of natural caffeine, so it can be more beneficial than the mixes you buy with a ton of other chemicals.
Asthma
This one is especially true. My mom suffers from asthma and a hot cup of coffee in the morning helps her so much. It helps with breathing, wheezing, and opens up the passages.
Be Cautious of Coffee
There are some health issues that can be hindered by coffee. Not everything benefits from coffee like these other tips we’ve mentioned.
If you have high blood pressure, heart issues bothered by caffeine, and anything else that is disturbed by caffeine, then you should stay away from coffee. Always talk with your doctor about consuming coffee if you have issues.
Coffee and Arthritis
This is a BIG ONE! I get asked this all the time on social media because readers know I enjoy coffee in the mornings.
The truth is I don’t drink much coffee. I have a cup in the mornings. If I don’t finish it all, I will turn it into ice coffee later in the day. So, that is about all I consume.
A few years ago, I cut out coffee to test and see how it helped my arthritis. It didn’t help at all, in fact, mornings where even worse for me without coffee.
I brought it back and continue to enjoy it everyday.
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Bottom Line with Coffee
The biggest issue with coffee is people drink TOO much and add TOO many chemicals to it. These factors are what can be bad for your health.
Stick with black coffee, maybe some almond milk and cinnamon, and keep it to one or two cups a day. Moderation is the key to almost everything regarding chemicals in your life!
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Alexis is an investigative chemist sharing her expertise in cleaning, skincare, gardening, and home hacks. She personally tests out products like the best skincare products or home products then shares not only the science behind how it works, but also her personal results. She is the mom of two living in Texas with her husband. Find her on Instagram for fantastic videos, tips, and behind the scenes.
Well if this isn’t a reason to enjoy a nice cup of coffee in the morning I don’t know what is! Luckily I don’t drink much and prefer mine with just a splash of almond milk and no sweetener too! <3, Pamela Sequins & Sea Breezes
Right? Lol, it’s amazing the scientific benefits of coffee. And that sounds like the perfect way to enjoy it! So many add sweeteners and chemicals to their coffee which is really what makes it bad for your health!
I’ve been having this debate for years with people within my circle. You mention some interesting points. For me personally, I enjoy a cup every now and then. It triggers my heart to beat irregular so I have to be careful on how much consumption of it I can have. I find decaf doesn’t have the same effect, but after reading your post about the process of decaf coffee, I tend to stay away. Anyways, interesting post and now I have some chemist facts to back my opinions.
Thanks Michelle! It’s amazing the myths that pop up about things relating to health, especially arthritis….and all by people who don’t have experience either! Moderation is definitely the key for caffeine 🙂
Good to know! My dad loves coffee in the morning, but while I enjoy the smell, I’ve never gotten into warm drinks – I don’t know about iced coffee, if I made my own. I’ve had one elsewhere and didn’t like that either. hah
It’s definitely an acquired taste lol. My husband hates it to this day, but I sure love it 🙂
Coffee certainly does help asthma symptoms…the asthma experts say its because of a certain chemical. Like with most everything : moderation is the key… I hear from Grammy that she drank a pot for 50 plus years, lol. Thanks for the interesting information on this wonderful GOD supplied goodness . MOM
Yes she did! I think that’s why she stayed so spry all those years 🙂 I think all things God made have good benefits when we use them properly!!
Happy Monday… such good info about coffee… Although I don’t drink coffee (smell and taste turn me off), I like knowing about its properties. The muscle recovery aspect intrigues me – what caffeine source do you recommend after a weight training class? I drink caffeinated tea – will that do? I also take Calm, the magnesium powder supplement. I learn such good stuff from you!
Thanks Laurie! Any caffeine would be good, even tea. I would recommend doing a double dose of tea to get more caffeine since it has a low amount compared to coffee. I really love Calm too, so good for relaxing!
You’re speaking to my coffee loving heart! I only add a splash of organic skim milk to mine, and stick to 1-2 cups a day <3
Green Fashionista
Yum! Sounds like a great way to have coffee!
Great to learn that coffee has more positives for health than negatives. I think we’re all different with how caffeine affects us. My husband can’t function before having his cup of coffee. I could do with 1/2 a cup in the morning and be fine all day. I need to share these details with my Dad who drinks several cups a day but also suffers from depression.
That is true, we all react differently. I am fine with just a small cup too, I love coffee for the taste and relaxation in the morning vs for the caffeine. 🙂
I do not like coffee in any way shape or form
I know some people who are the same way! 🙂
This was an interesting article! Thanks for all the information about how coffee can be a benefit. Now….for cutting back on the creamer. : )
Thanks Leslie! Oh I know, that can be the hardest part! I used to be a hardcore creamer addict lol. I love using Silk creamer occasionally 🙂
I love this post! I started drinking coffee in my adult life and I’m not sure why I didn’t start sooner! I suffer from asthma like your mom, and I remember a couple of times as a child when my mom would give me a cup of coffee when we couldn’t get to an inhaler right away. So interesting! Another benefit of coffee that I love is that it seems to really help my digestive system.
Thanks Jessica! That is so neat your mom did that, it has been a life saver for my mom with her asthma. And it is so helpful for my digestion too! I gotta have one cup in the mornings to stay regular 🙂
I love the chemical analysis as i base a lot of faith in the sciences -thank you! I have looked into coffee as my husband is a huge coffee drinker and was worried as i read an article about pesticides in food that stated coffee as being one of the most pesticide laden foods.Couple that with the brewing process and I kinda feel like he’s simply “washing” the pesticides from the grounds and drinking them. I have switched to organic free trade coffee and after reading your article, I feel much better about his coffee habits. Thank you again!
Thanks Wendy! There are many coffee brands that contain all types of chemicals, so organic is always a safe choice. I’m so glad you enjoyed the article 🙂 Coffee can be a great natural option when we use it the right way 🙂
Hi. I just discovered your blog and can’t stop reading articles!!! Is there a certain brand of almond milk that you like? I thought it contained a lot of sugar so I just want to know which would be best for avoiding that.
Most almond milk doesn’t contain any sugar unless it is added. I use Silk unsweetened vanilla or unsweetened regular. Just look for unsweetened which will mean it has zero grams of sugar 🙂