您知道你的咖啡裡有甚麼東西嗎?

咖啡是在世界上最受歡迎的飲料之一。

事實上，根據維基百科：“咖啡因是世界上最廣泛飲用的鎮靜精神性物質，但與大多數的其他鎮靜精神性物質不同，咖啡因是合法的，幾乎所有地區都不受管制。在北美，90％的成年人每天喝咖啡因。”-維基百科

然而，咖啡又是在科學家和健康專家之間最有爭議的一個東西，近幾十年來有超過19,000的研究報告做了咖啡對健康的影響。咖啡的好處和副作用很多年來被討論了。這篇文章是即將要解釋雙方的故事。

令人驚訝的是，咖啡富含抗氧化劑。科學家發現平常喝的咖啡中含有的抗氧化劑是比藍莓，葡萄果汁，橙子，或覆盆子裡來的還要更多。但若當與牛奶喝在一起,變成抗氧化劑在體內的效果會降低。

其他研究報告表示，喝咖啡會降低罹患中風，癌症和癡呆症的風險。而且很多研究報告說明固定喝咖啡的人的罹患帕金森病的機率可降低高達80％。
事實上，根據WebMD，咖啡可以大大降低罹患糖尿病的風險。但與此同時，咖啡還帶著無數的隱患。當大量飲用咖啡時，咖啡給你坐雲霄飛車一般的情緒上的起伏，這可引起腎上腺激素和能源的上升故導致疲勞，煩躁，情緒不穩和睡眠障礙。

就像毒品，你越來越依賴於一個“快速解決”。你只一杯咖啡開始，但你的身體會上癮，故你為了感受到同樣的效果變成需要更多的咖啡。
那，你對咖啡的最後判斷是甚麼呢？
我這裡不是要講是否要喝咖啡。我個人是選擇中庸。

Do You Know What's in Your Coffee?

Date:20 Aug 2009

Type:Nutrition & Health News

Source:Nutrition Horizon

Sector:Beverages, Tea & Coffee

Summary:Scientists have found that a typical serving of coffee contains more antioxidants than a typical serving of blueberries, grape juice, oranges, or raspberries. However, when combined with milk, the antioxidants become less effective in the body.

20 Aug 2009 Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world.

In fact, according to Wikipedia: “Caffeine is the world’s most widely consumed psychoactive substance, but unlike most other psychoactive substances, it is legal and unregulated in nearly all jurisdictions. In North America, 90% of adults consume caffeine daily.” – Wikipedia

However, it’s also one of the most controversial among scientists and health experts, with over 19,000 studies done over recent decades examining coffee’s impact on health. The benefits and harmful side effects of coffee being debated for years. This article is going to serve up both sides of the story.

Surprisingly, coffee is packed with antioxidants. Scientists have found that a typical serving of coffee contains more antioxidants than a typical serving of blueberries, grape juice, oranges, or raspberries. However, when combined with milk, the antioxidants become less effective in the body.

Other studies have shown that drinking coffee reduces risk of stroke, cancer and dementia. And multiple studies indicate that people who drink coffee on a regular basis are up to 80% less likely to develop Parkinson’s.
In fact, according to WebMD, coffee can dramatically reduce the risk of diabetes. But at the same time, coffee also comes with a number of hidden dangers. When consumed heavily, coffee can send you on a rollercoaster ride of emotional highs and lows, which can cause a spike of adrenaline and energy followed by fatigue, irritability, mood swings, and sleep disturbance.
Just like a drug, you become more and more dependent on a “quick fix”. You start off with just one cup of coffee, but as your body develops a tolerance to it, you need more and more to feel the same effects.
So, what’s the final verdict on coffee?
Well, I’m not here to say whether someone should or shouldn’t drink coffee. I personally opt on the side of moderation.