For many of us coffee is the first beverage of the day. Coffee gives us energy, embodies feelings of warmth, reminds us of nostalgic moments, help improve our levels of concentration and is perfect to enjoy alone or in the company of others, but can coffee reduce diabetes?
There is proof is showing that there are numerous medical advantages which can come with this prevalent drink.
Coffee, what is it really?
Coffee is a plant, an origin of a genus of plants known as Coffea. In the commercial coffee industry two of the primary types of coffees, referred to as species are Arabica and Robusta.
Coffee is brewed using roasted coffee beans, which are the seeds of berries from the Coffea plant.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood sugar level (blood glucose) is too high. Blood glucose is an energy source that is created by the foods we eat. The pancreas in your body makes a hormone called Insulin helps the glucose travel to your cells to be used for energy your body needs. If the body cannot produce enough insulin, the glucose cannot reach the cells that need it. Subsequently, if the body over produces insulin, other health problems occur.
Diabetes affects than 400 million people, approximately 8% of adults beyond over the age of 18 around the world.
There are 3 main types of Diabetes
Type 1 Diabetes
If you are someone with Type 1 Diabetes, your body does not make insulin and you need to take insulin daily in order to stay alive. Type 1 Diabetes is usually detected at an early age, however, it can be detected at any age.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes occurs when your body is not able to produce or utilize insulin well. You can be diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes at any age, however, many times you will find that people get it when they are older.
Gestational Diabetes
Pregnant women may discover they have Gestational Diabetes, which is detected during pregnancy and usually goes away after the child is born. Unfortunately your risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes increases once you have had Gestational Diabetes.
How can coffee help?
Studies have shown that people who drink coffee may significantly reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Participants with a total daily consumption of at least 3 cups of coffee lowered the risk of type 2 diabetes by 42%. (resource: Diabetes Care)
Coffee is stacked with antioxidants, including a group of compound called quinine that increased insulin sensitivity that improves the body’s reaction to insulin. Coffee also has a lot of magnesium, chlorogenic corrosive and tocopherols. Each has been appeared to improve insulin sensitivity and glucose digestion, lessen the risk and severity of diabetes.
Women who drink no less than four cups of coffee daily are less likely to develop diabetes as non-coffee consumers. Women who drank at least some coffee day by day had a lower risk (slightly more than half the risk) of getting diabetes than the individuals who drank only some coffee day by day, or no coffee at all. Both regular and decaf were tested and did not affect the outcome.
Coffee can also reduce the risk of other diseases too:
• Strokes
• Arrhythmias
• Gallstones
Are you ready to pick up that cup of java?
I don’t know how great coffee can be for you, especially with all the other ingredients we add to our freshly brewed cup these days. In order to gain any benefit, I’m sure it’s suggested that you drink it without cream, sugar, caramel, whipped cream or your other favorite coffee mixers.
Bookstores and cafe’s have helped us increase our coffee consumption and with it add so many other foods with calories that we probably shouldn’t have.
Anything is moderation in my opinion is okay.
As a coffee drinker, I have learned cut back from 3-5 cups daily and now drink it without sugar. I also limit the fancy drinks rare/special occasions. The first thing I do every morning is grab a cup of coffee and I do enjoy it as an afternoon social beverage with friends.
I fall into the type 2 diabetes category, a disease that runs in my family. When diagnosed with this disease, I started looking at food, beverages and consumption in a much different way. I was on a prescription pill to help control my diabetes, and now am happy to report that I am no longer taking medication to control this disease, I am controlling it with proper eating and exercise.
Coffee may help reduce diabetes, but so will do the right things for your body.
I hope you have enjoyed this article. Please take a moment to tell me your thoughts in the comment section.
Thanks
Ray Martinez
I am not a diabetic. But it does run in my family. Although I do typically have a cup of coffee in the morning, I normally drink it with creamer. Which I never considered to look at what that might do as far the sugar in it. How did you go to not using sugar in your coffee as I am not sure I could handle the taste of just black coffee. What would you suggest? Also 3 cups is a lot of coffee! at least for me! What can I do at home to help keep diabetes out of my life? Thanks for the easy read!
Lorrie Pearson
Hi Ray, It took some adjustments to go from someone who took their coffee extra light, extra sweet. I started by cutting back 1/2 tsp of sugar at a time. This way I could adjust to the less sweet taste. What you’ll find is that once you have adjusted to less sugar little by little, to none, you really won’t miss the sugar. Creamer does have some sugar and that you will soon discover is more than enough.
As for keeping diabetes away, that depends upon your system, overall health and eating habits. I suggest try to eat more balanced meals. I have always been one who would choose the fried chicken instead of grilled. Eat less of the bad foods, add more fruit and vegetables to your meals and exercise.
This may sound like a lot, but I have found that if you start slowly, make a conscious effort to eat healthier and schedule time to walk starting at 15 minutes a day, you will feel better, move better and become healthier.
Ray, I appreciate your comments. Hope this response to your question helps.
Steve & Kris
I have heard that coffee has a lot of awesome “stuff” in it that is good for us. You have a great paragraph on all the wonderful ingredients that are in coffee, antioxidants, etc. I have never been a coffee drinker, but I love the smell. I think you have some great points, but where people might get in trouble is when they order a double chocolate, extra sugar, blah, blah, blah, and call it coffee. That is very interesting that women who drink four cups of coffee per day are less likely to develop diabetes. I would never have guessed that. It’s amazing the plants available to us naturally, have so much good stuff inside. Great post, thank you for sharing.
Lorrie Pearson
Thanks for your comments Steve & Kris. I’ve always found coffee and it’s benefits an interesting topic. It’s so easy to reduce the benefits of foods and beverages we consume by the way it is prepared. The more sugar, flavors and toppings you add to coffee the quicker it becomes a “fancy sugary drink” giving you temporary energy, a lot of calories and increased risk of health related issues over time.
Happy you enjoyed the article.