Four cups of coffee a day are no problem

Who works at the computer, drinking usually too little. Or especially a lot of coffee. Now, studies show that coffee passion is healthier than expected.

At least 1.5 liters of water should you drink every day, the nutrition experts recommend. About every second respondent does not create that , the study diet eat what Germany laid the technician health insurance. According to her, it falls to 43 per cent hard to make the job a sufficient liquid supply. Among women, there are slightly more (47 percent), among men slightly less (41 percent).

They drink very little employees with higher education, who have a desk job: Nearly 60 percent of them were found to have problems with it , to take the recommended amount of liquid to be. Maybe because a physically strenuous activity makes less thirsty quickly than other jobs. Or because you can easily get used to lack of fluid.

Only if it is larger, many complain of difficulty concentrating, fatigue and headaches. The brain consists of about 80 percent water - no wonder that the water shortage is noticeable also in the head. It also leads to viscous blood, which strains circulation and digestion.

However, experts disagree about how much fluid intake man actually needs. The German Nutrition Society recommends office workers to about 1.5 liters per day. In the warm spring and summer months, according to her, it should be double. At least three liters a day should also take yourself who establish regular heavy physical work. Researchers at the American University of Pennsylvania, however, that evaluated several clinical studies on water consumption and health a few years ago, could not demonstrate that people who drank at least two liters per day, were healthier than others.

Coffee is good

Fact: On average, 2.5 liters of water differs from an adult in the course of a day, a portion of it through respiration. Good one liter of water, the body gets back on solid food again. Many fruits and vegetables contain up to 70 percent water, meat may even consist of 75 percent water. Cucumbers are 95 percent on most water. About 300 milliliters is the body's metabolic processes forth by itself. The rest must be supplied for drinks. Particularly suitable tap water, mineral, spring and table water and fruit juice spritzers apply.

Even coffee is healthier than expected. An average of 150 liters of coffee drinking in every German average. Long he was considered unhealthy. He withdrawing water from the body, tend to have high blood pressure, übersäuere the blood and is not good for the heart.

Diet Study: Coffee, the healthy sin

Even a cup for a long life? A large U.S. study found that coffee has a positive effect on health. Nevertheless, typical coffee drinkers on average live shorter - because they have other unhealthy habits.

Coffee, black: How exactly, study participants drank their coffee was not recorded

At one point, the researchers are certain: On caffeine, it can not be. Because, according to their study data and decaffeinated coffee usually affect the health alike. So if protecting substances from the hot drink a little before heart disease and other diseases, there must be other than the person responsible for the stimulating effect of caffeine.

Neal Freedman of the National Institutes of Health, USA and colleagues analyzed information from approximately 229,000 men and 173,000 women since the mid-nineties in a large study ( NIH AARP Diet and Health Study who participated). All had completed a questionnaire with various information at the beginning of their lifestyle - eating habits, alcohol consumption, sports stint and much more. At baseline, participants were 50-71 years old.
By the year 2008 52.515 participants died, the researchers in the "New England Journal of Medicine" report. The team calculated Freedman now is whether or coffee drinkers rather than later killed, participants who consumed preferably other drinks arrived.

In fact, they died earlier. However, coffee drinkers turned out more often than couch potatoes and as regular consumers of alcohol - in addition they spurned more fruits and vegetables and ate red meat more often . The most obvious connection: Of the men who drank no coffee at all, 4.8 percent smoked. In the group with the highest coffee consumption (six cups a day or more), however, 34.7 percent were smokers. For women it was 8.1 or 48.1 percent. So the bottom line was - once again: Anyone who drinks a lot of coffee, a total of more unhealthy lives.

Helpful rather than harmful

To find out if the coffee is just another bad habit or looks more positive, the researchers calculated that out just enumerated, and other known factors. So they came to the conclusion that coffee protects rather than harms.

"Compared with men who consumed no coffee, had men who drank six or more cups a day, a ten-percent lower risk of dying during the study period," the scientists write. In women, the risk fell by as much as 15 percent. A result similar, previous studies confirmed.

Whether the coffee contained caffeine or not, it did not matter. May affect antioxidants contained in the hot drink is positive, the researchers speculate.
As with all studies based not interview people once in their life habits and then for many years to wait and collect data, there was also the problem that no one can be sure in the end that really the coffee has identified the observed difference. Perhaps there are other behaviors that differ from non-coffee drinker coffee drinkers who were not recorded or observed. Maybe the simple observation can explain the fact that the coffee drinkers have taken to something more fluid than the others - or that they have fewer heavy drinking sugary soft drinks.

In summary, it means: Just because coffee drinkers - if you have eliminated all other factors - living longer, extended coffee not life.

Coffee for moms

Did you drink coffee in the morning, at lunch, in the evening, and sometimes in between. Coffee for you - bracer. But here you have to know the joys of motherhood and the urgent need to begin to live a healthy lifestyle, including the "eat right." What about coffee? Does it not hurt your baby, if he does not get into the milk ...

Let's face it. Coffee stimulates the nervous system, strengthens the heart, increases the production of adrenaline and speed up metabolism. That is the same effect as jogging, charge.

In practice, it looks like this: better blood is saturated with oxygen, toxins are excreted more rapidly, and it is very good for the fetus (baby). The increased amount of adrenaline to mobilize all the resources of the body - the muscles become more elastic, fabric recover more quickly and safely respond to changes (during pregnancy and childbirth change is inevitable).

However! Positive effect of coffee is only possible with moderate use! Let us specify what "moderate" - if you usually drink 1 - 2 cups of coffee a day, this is possible and stop, and if the daily rate was 5 cups should reduce the number of coffee to 2 - 3. Just abandon the coffee is not necessary, even dangerous. The fact that the body abrupt withdrawal of coffee - a lot of stress (especially at the usual 5 - 7 cups per day), and stress during pregnancy and breastfeeding is very undesirable. Logical to simply reduce the dose or switch to high-altitude arabica coffee - it has a minimal amount of caffeine. And if arabica organic, all is good - it is grown without the use of chemicals.

Speaking of chemistry. Its very much in the flavored coffee, instant and decaffeinated coffee. So far, no one has studied the effects of chemical (synthetic) components of these types of coffee on the developing fetus and infant. However, according to unofficial reports, the children more often irritability, "tummy problems" and the lack of calcium (convulsions, tremor, crooked bones, etc.), if the mother during pregnancy and breast-feeding saw instant coffee (or decaf flavored).

Instead of an epilogue.

Science-science, but there is no substitute their own feelings. If the future of your favorite coffee or held your mother to become bad, deteriorating health - it is better to time to replace the charging of tea or coffee. And if there are no problems - drink to your health and your baby.

The secret to beautiful skin is in coffee

The survey showed that daily consumption of two cups of coffee can slow down the aging process of the skin due to the content of antioxidants in the drink.

This discovery made by Professor Joe Vinson of the University of Scranton.

Researcher repelled by the provision that the sun and fresh air lead to aging of certain cells in the human body. The fact that oxygen provokes destruction of cells.

The wind can accelerate the aging process of the skin. In turn, the antioxidants in coffee neutralized dangerous forms of oxygen, known as free radicals.

It must be said that the survey also revealed several positive properties of coffee. Drink improves brain function by acting on his part, responsible for attention and memory. According to Joe Vinson, coffee may prevent memory loss and distraction in the elderly, reduce the risk of developing diabetes and cirrhosis of the liver.

Unblended coffee

A single international classification coffee, unfortunately, and perhaps fortunately, no. Attempts to build a coherent classification of varieties kofeproizvodyaschimi taken by many countries: by region, manufacturers, on the size and hardness of the grain, the height growth of coffee trees.Typically, consumers have become accustomed to determine the right kind of coffee-producing countries (Colombian Coffee - Columbian coffee), regions, states or provinces (Brazil Arabica - Brazilian Arabica). Sometimes it is named after the mountain or valley, where the coffee was produced (Tanzanian Kilimanjaro-Tanzanian Kilimanjaro) or after the town (Columbia Armenia-Columbian Armenia) and even a port (Brazilian Santos - Brazilian Santos).

Recently come across the names of varieties, bearing the name of the chateau (translated from French means "estate", "lock").

Classification by grain size less bulky. Large denoted by the letter A (India), medium - A two (Kenya, Tanzania), small - three A (Peru).

In Latin America, the most common classification of grain hardness. The higher the coffee plantation, the harder the coffee beans. Meanwhile, it means they are better and of higher quality.

Each unmixed grade - its original and unique taste. There are about ten and they underlie different coffee blends. The main conditions that determine the quality of the coffee - the scent, color saturation (the "weight" in the language of coffee), acidity (brightness, sharpness drink) and taste (does not need to be clarified). However, in England, was published dictionary, which contains definitions of 1200, evaluating the taste of coffee.

Unknown grade coffee giant lives in Madagascar

The giant coffee bean, bean pods to 30 cm and 38 orchids. Botany, Royal Botanic Gardens told Infox.ru, what other unique plants are found throughout the world.

It is believed that the planet is growing by about 350,000 species of plants. And even if you do not take into account the view that the species is much more work by botanists many more. The fact that so far described about 287,000 species of plants.

Where there are new types of coffee...

A representative set of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (London) told Infox.ru, which recently specialists of this botanical garden has discovered and described 292 new species of plants. A complete list will appear in the January issue of the journal Herbarium. So far, scientists have compiled an electronic map where you can see the geographical distribution of all 292 species and even learn from their botanical descriptions.

Most of all - about a hundred - scientists have found a new species in Eastern and Southern Africa (Tanzania in only one of 67 species). Features a wealth of flora distinguished themselves as the islands of Madagascar and Borneo.

Professor Stephen Hopper (Stephen Hopper), director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, said: "Few people know that every year up to 2000, scientists describe new species. The specialists of our botanical gardens are making a significant contribution to this figure. Locate and describe new species is indeed very important. After all, in order to save some rare or endangered plants, we must first know where they are growing. "

Huge bean pods with giant

Among the many new species is very unusual plants. For example, the giant trees of rainforests of Cameroon. Height Berlinia korupensis can reach 42 meters and trunk diameter greater than one meter. Berlininia belongs to the legume family (Leguminosae). Dr. Xander van der Burgt (Xander van der Burgt) says that it has an unusually large fruit plants - giant pods longer than 30 cm are formed after a huge white flowers wither. "It is extremely rare plant: we found only 17 individuals in the entire Korup National Park in Cameroon," - he says.

High-altitude orchids

The experts of the Royal Botanic Gardens on orchids Dr. Jeff Wood (Jeff Wood) and Dr Phil Cribb (Phil Cribb) discovered this year, and described 38 new species of these magnificent plants. Most of the species, scientists have found at an altitude of 4095 meters on Mount Kinabalu - the highest point of the island of Borneo. "Flora Kinabalu striking rich. An area of ​​approximately 1,200 square kilometers found 866 different species of orchids, "- says Dr. Cribb.

Coffee trees with unusual fruits

Another interesting find - unusual coffee trees. Their scientists discovered on the island of Madagascar, in the mountains of the north. For example, Coffea pterocarpa has a grain, as if covered with wings similar to fruit-lionfish. A Coffea boinensis has the largest seeds of all known species of coffee plants - the seeds of the coffee is almost two times more than the well-known grain Arabica coffee.

The legacy of past eras

Another species found, aquatic plant that lives in fresh water, - Isoetes eludens. This plant belongs to the department lycopsids - higher spore plant genus Polushnik. This is a very ancient group, the oldest fossil imprints of these plants date back to the age of about 150 million years. "It's amazing that this small plant height of 5 centimeters we managed to find a mountain lake in South Africa" ​​- says Professor Hopper.

Sweet potato tuber with a huge

Another rare type of yam Dioscorea strydomiana scientists have discovered in South Africa. According to biologists in the world, there are only 200 individuals of this plant. Dioscorea strydomiana like shrub, however, very unusual - with a huge hard tuber that grows above the ground and reaches a diameter and a height of one meter.

Brazil and this time has left scientists with no surprises - very original and new Brazilian passion fruit (Passiflora cristalina) with huge white edible fruits.

Scientists say that many species of these plants is very rare and vulnerable. Some plants are valued for their medicinal properties and other types simply are endangered because their habitats are disappearing - cut down rainforests.

So you need to have time to take measures for their conservation in nature, or at least as a living herbarium grow these plants in the botanical gardens.

Robusta

At the present time - Robusta - the only significant competitor to the cultivated species of Arabica coffee. Robusta is now about 30% of world coffee production. This type of coffee is grown at low altitude, robusta trees above in size than the Arabica trees.

Robusta can make tight, but tasteless and low-quality beverage with higher levels of caffeine than Arabica. This type of coffee is used as the main component for the production of instant coffee, as well as for economy commercial mixtures. Robusta is not used in the coffee market specialty, other than in exceptional cases, adding it to increase body drink in some mixture of Italian style.

Historically, this type of coffee has begun to develop and actively cultivated during the development of the competitive wars in America and Europe in the 40-50's, when producers by reducing the cost of the product were trying to increase their market share. In this over-active use of robusta in some countries has led to a decrease in the level of coffee consumption as a product, and the general decline in the market. See also arabica coffee.

How to choose the ground coffee

Ready ground coffee taste and aroma, of course, is second only to that of roasted and crushed, but this is the best option for those who prefer not to drink instant and fresh brewed beverage.

How did he do that? First, companies from different countries are purchasing green corn in Brazil, India, Colombia and Kenya, and then at home (closer to the consumer), toast, grind, create all kinds of varietal blend and pack. So on the shelves you can find ground coffee from Italy, Germany, France, Russia, etc. How to choose the perfect beverage quality, grinding, roast and mix varieties, says Ramaz Chanturia, General Director of the Association "Rusteacoffee."

For Turks - dust, for machines - grains

To choose the best for you with coffee, first decide, how will you cook it - depends on the product of grinding what you need. If varish drink in Turku or geyser coffee machine, choose a powder, crushed almost to dust. If Using A filter coffee maker or espresso machine, one must look for medium and large coffee grind - from fine you will obscure the taste of a drink. For information about how much pulverized powder contained in the pack, look at the label.

If you gain the domestic coffee, choose a product with the guests premium or premium - this sign will give you the assurance that the grains are ground well and evenly roasted.

Italians love coffe without beans

Another important factor that affects the taste and aroma of coffee - its degree of doneness. She is weak, medium, strong and maximum, but a clear classification in this case is not, therefore, on the labels of this characteristic can be called quite differently - for example, the domestic product on STATE called svetloobzharennym, sredneobzharennym, temnoobzharennym or higher degree of roasting. Which option you choose depends only on your preferences, because the higher the degree of roasting, the more intense coffee flavor with a bitter coffee gets. If you love fragrant and soft drink, buy a product with a minimum of frying.

By the way, the majority of manufacturers produce a different product, but the Italian coffee is more often heavily roasted.

Coffee with caffeine and without

Coffees can be thousands - they are different from each other shades of taste, flavor, astringency, acidity, because the seeds came in very different circumstances. For example, "Jamaica Blue Mountain" (costs about 16 thousand rubles. Per 1 kg) grows only on the eponymous island of the Caribbean, and in the production of "Kopi Luwak" (the price - about 24 thousand rubles. Per 1 kg) involved animals palm civet - they eat the berries, but the seeds in their bodies are not digested, and go along with feces and collected people.

However, all varieties of coffee are two main Species - Arabica and Robusta (there Liberica and ekselsa, but they maloplodovity and used very rarely.) Sometimes manufacturers put in only one coffee packaging - in this case write "100% arabica". But more often mix the two species in different proportions: if you see on the label the words "espresso", then in the inside packs blend of Arabica and Robusta in the ratio of 50/50, 60/40 or 70/30. Well, if the manufacturer has indicated the exact composition of the mixture, because a lot depends on this. For example, in arabica less caffeine.

It gives the drink a rich flavor, aroma and slightly sour. But Robusta more strong, bitter and contains more caffeine. If you have heart problems, but you do not want to give up a morning cup of flavored drink, look for packages labeled "decaffeinated" - a substance learned to pull out the green beans and make coffee, devoid of invigorating effect. Coffee chocolate, amaretto, hazelnut In recent years become increasingly popular ground coffee with flavors of chocolate, brandy, amaretto, nuts, vanilla and cinnamon. Is it possible to distinguish between natural drink from the chemical? Basically, just do it. If the addition of the spices (cardamom, pepper, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg), then it is 90% natural product. But the other flavors (alcohol, chocolate, almonds, pine nuts, fruit) will likely be artificial or natural identical - the latter, incidentally, is preferable. However, true gourmets are sure that quality "pure" coffee itself is so good that extra flavoring did not need.

Vacuum cake - the best

During the roasting of grain in the central part creates a gas bubble, which concentrate flavoring. When the coffee is ground, it is destroyed and valuable enchanting scent begins to evaporate. Knowing such a feature, do not buy pre-packaged in paper bags product, and ask him to grind in front of you. If you gain the factory ground, choose a coffee in a solid brick of a vacuum - in this form it is better to retain their properties. Just see that the package is not damaged (in which case it becomes a little bland in places) and did not buy a large stack, because after opening you can not protect coffee from the "withering". In contrast to vacuum briquettes in soft packaging product is a little changes its properties, but some of them have a one-way membrane that lets air out and prevents it to get into the package. It is needed and from a technological point of view - that the gases do not accumulate in the pack and did not blow it, and from a consumer - you can put pressure on the bag and smell the product that is purchased.

By opening the package, the first thing sniff its contents, because a characteristic delicious flavor - the main indicator of fresh and high-quality ground coffee.

Species and varieties of coffee

For the first time people paid attention to the coffee culture in Africa, and its cultivation was born, naturally there. Then, coffee spread to the first favorable to its growing Asian countries, and later the Americas, taking the place of the main agricultural crops in many states.

This story has led to the emergence of the spread of hundreds of coffees from around the world. All types and coffees have distinctive features depending on climate and in which the soil from which coffee grows. Different varieties of naturally different taste, flavor, caffeine content, extract content. For some elite varieties is important not only in what country it is grown, but also on what specific plantation.

Currently cultivated for industrial purposes are basically three kinds of coffee: Arabica (90% of plants), Robusta and Liberica.

Arabica grows around the world, in the tropics of Africa, Asia and America. Robusta discovered only in the 20th century and began to cultivate for industrial purposes, when it was discovered that some consumers prefer coffee soft and delicate taste of Arabica more pungent, bitter, and you may say, earthy taste of Robusta (from the Latin robustus - "strong", "reliable "," solid "). These trees are planted mainly in Madagascar and Guinea.