posted August 29, 2005 01:45 PM         

Study says coffee delivers more health benefits than fruit and veg

JOHN VON RADOWITZ

COFFEE is likely to contribute far more health-giving anti- oxidants to the British diet than fruit and vegetables, new research suggests.

The evidence comes from the United States, where scientists measured the antioxidant content of more than 100 items, including vegetables, fruits, nuts, spices, oils and beverages.

Coffee emerged as easily the biggest source of antioxidants, taking account of the amount per serving and level of consumption. Black tea came second, followed by bananas, dry beans and corn.

"Americans get more of their antioxidants from coffee than any other dietary source - nothing else comes close," said the leader of the study, Professor Joe Vinson, of Scranton University, Pennsylvania. Caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee appeared to provide similar antioxidant levels. The US findings probably reflect a similar trend in the UK, with 47 per cent of the population drinking about 70 million cups of coffee each day.

Antioxidants help to rid the body of harmful free radicals - destructive molecules that damage cells and DNA - and have been linked to a number of health benefits, including protection against heart disease and cancer.

Studies have associated coffee drinking with a reduced risk of liver and colon cancer, type two diabetes and Parkinson's disease. But Prof Vinson urged moderation, recommending that people drink only one or two cups per day. He added: "Unfortunately, consumers are still not eating enough fruits and vegetables, which are better for you from an overall nutritional point of view."

A spokesman for the British Coffee Association said: "This study reconfirms the fact that moderate coffee consumption of four to five cups a day not only is perfectly safe but may confer health benefits."

posted August 29, 2005 03:14 PM         

My grandfather drank almost exclusively coffee.. and would hate when someone rinsed his cup.. he said the flavour was rinsed away ( slight cringe and an 'ew')
He got bladder cancer at the end, but he was healthy and had all his mental faculties his entire life.. had the vitality of a much younger man.. ( which is why it really saddened me when he succumbed)
He was a Sagitttarius.

posted August 30, 2005 01:25 AM         

Starbucks coffee is over roasted.

posted August 30, 2005 01:53 AM         

But I thought they were only in California... I haven't seen any since I moved away. Well, I guess if you have one in Vancouver, there is hope for me yet!

posted August 30, 2005 03:57 AM         

Ofcourse the sellers will push their benefits, there is money in those packets.

But if you really care about your body take time to compare alternate thinking.

Dare to click here:........
http://www.mercola.com/2000/sep/10/green_tea_fluoride_thyroid.htm

posted August 30, 2005 12:03 PM         

Coffee/caffeine is one of the most addicting legal drugs on the planet. I choose to not allow myself to be addicted to anything, and I also choose not to let anything have too much power over me. So, I indulge in a small coffee a few times a year.

I am continually amazed at our world, in which pot is illegal, and caffeine is legal.

posted August 30, 2005 12:04 PM         

Coffee/caffeine is one of the most addicting legal drugs on the planet. I choose to not allow myself to be addicted to anything, and I also choose not to let anything have too much power over me. So, I indulge in a small coffee a few times a year.

I am continually amazed at our world, in which pot is illegal, and caffeine is legal.

btw, if you really want great antioxidants, eat lots of blue berries.

posted August 30, 2005 12:40 PM         

The philosopher Voltaire reputedly drank 92 cups of coffee a day, and lived to be very old. When told he was drinking too much, he scoffed, "It must be bad for me. I've been drinking it for over 70 years, and am still alive!"

I drink coffee black, and pixie, I do agree with your grandfather not washing his cup! (I do wash mine once a week. Yes, cringe if you like!) It adds character to the coffee.

posted August 31, 2005 12:51 PM         

You should re-read the post by HeartShapedCross.

Coffee isn't better for you than veggies, thats preposterous. The issue here is that the average British person doesn't eat very much from the veggie kingdom and a result of that horrid diet is that they actually get more anti-oxidants from coffee.

Its ironic and bizzarre of the Brits.

posted September 01, 2005 08:15 AM         

I hope you grow those fruit and vegies yourself?

Because much of what you will eat from stores is overdosed in pesticide and herbicides, and dowsed with human **** .

posted September 02, 2005 12:04 AM         

quote:

---

Coffee emerged as easily the biggest source of antioxidants, taking account of the amount per serving and level of consumption. Black tea came second, followed by bananas, dry beans and corn.

---

Seems pretty clear to me.

The article is saying that the antioxidant level in Coffee is higher than that of fruits and veggies.

posted September 02, 2005 05:53 AM         

quote:

---

Naive people

---

Did you intend for this to sound as condescending as it does?

LS, it's very early and I'm only half awake; I will reread this article later. But consider this wording:

quote:

---

Coffee emerged as easily the biggest source of antioxidants, taking account of the amount per serving and level of consumption. Black tea came second, followed by bananas, dry beans and corn.

"Americans get more of their antioxidants from coffee than any other dietary source - nothing else comes close

---

It's not saying that coffee necessarily has more antioxidants than, say, blueberries. It's saying that Americans consume more coffee than any other source of antioxidants.

I also haven't looked into who or what funded this alleged study.

posted September 02, 2005 12:00 PM         

Hmmm...

Also, I agree. peajie's comment was clearly an attack, rather than an attempt to be informative.

posted September 02, 2005 02:48 PM         

Perhaps we are both right. If the research you presented is accurate then "per serving" coffee may very well be a richer source of anti-oxidants than most fruits and veg. But the thing is, is that people should eat MANY MANY more servings of veg and fruit than they should coffee.

So since the Brits aren't known for their healthy diets (notoriously low in fruits and veg) it's possible that they actually get more anti-oxidants from coffee than other foods. It helps that coffee is VERY high in anti-oxidants (possibly higher than fruit and veg). Overall, a healthy diet (that includes coffee) will still supply more anti-oxidants from the fruit and veggies. The health benefits of coffee would be an added bonus.

posted September 03, 2005 10:19 AM         

There is a saying, "there are non so blind as those who will not see". Which should perhaps say.... " as those who see only what they wish to see."

Which ARE better ? Fruit and vegies coated in pesticides etc, or green tea containing dangerous amounts of Floride.

Any discussion is meaningless if the parameters are not first set.

Did you check out the "Mercola" site which I provided in an earlier post above?
Or does this not count as "providing information?".

As an ex Govt analysis I could swamp you with information about misconceptions about fruit and vegies, which would confuse you beyond your capacity.

posted September 03, 2005 11:42 AM         

Your posts are wrought with assumptions which is why they were construed as disrespectful. How do you know that you aren't adressing people who understand perfectly well about the health risks of the modern diet?

The fact is, is that without land to grow your own food and/or money to purchase only organic food you are pretty much screwed. Not to mention that there are millions of people in Niger and Darfur who would be happy to eat a pesticide covered tomato (or anything for that matter).

So is eating conventional produce possibly harmful? Maybe so, but so is walking down the street.

posted September 03, 2005 12:20 PM         

Did you know conventional bananas are gassed to make them turn yellow before their time? It totally affects the taste.

There are certain fruits and veggies that I simply cannot afford to buy organic. Like pineapple, for instance. Organic pineapples are like $10. I have splurged a couple times and gotten the organic one... and I can definitely taste the difference. (On a side note... I twisted off the top of the last pineapple I bought, pulled away about 30 of the bottom leaves around the base of the stalk, and now I have a pineapple plant rooting in my window sill! Yay!)

Apples are another one I have noticed. Organic apples have more flavor, and are much sweeter.

If you are going to shop organic, you HAVE to shop every few days. Organic produce doesn't last as long as conventional. I don't mind that though... I to shop.

posted September 03, 2005 07:00 PM         

I just ADORE veggies beyond belief. Therefore, I raid my father's organic veggie garden. He grows the BEST tomatoes on the face of the planet...meaty! Not alot of juice, perfect for salads or a meal! I usually do not eat anyone else's toms (especially restaurant) because they're just tasteless. He also grew radishes for me this spring, asparagus also, and he has okra right now. (I'll have that tomorrow for dinner.)
I've asked him to plant broccoli and cauliflower for me this fall, since he will take down the okra and toms soon. We'll have to see how those taste...

Runs off to eat zucchini and onion mix

posted September 04, 2005 03:58 AM         

Once again there may be complains that I argue, but at least it gets attention.

Assumptions are not disrespectful, but they can be FATAL!!

Why should any of us ASSUME that all readers are intelligent or even fully informed?

To do so may cause their death, when a little suggested advice might have highlighted something which they did not know.

Ofcourse walking down a street may be dangerous,and hopefully everybody knows that.

However I can guarantee that there are a LARGE number of people who happily eat Soy products, who feed bread with 282 to their children, or who think sugar in cans of everything is to please their taste buds.

So much worry on these pages about what the stars or cards say for the future; when people are destroying their future by being uninformed about the fuel they put into their bodies.

Some "clicks" will follow in a PS.
If you already know all this stuff, congratulations.
But don't tell me I should not put here for anybody who doesn't.

posted September 04, 2005 09:22 AM         

Dr. Mercola has an interesting site, and offers much valid information on sugar, additives, soy, etc. I've visited it many times and have offered many of his studies here. However, he is an advocate of meat eating, very similar to Atkins, and for that he will never gain my total respect.

There are many, many threads here at LL which talk about healthy ways to eat. The information is there; people will do with it what they will. It did not take me long in this life to realize that you can't make anyone do anything. You can inspire, but that's usually not accomplished very well by those who condescend.