Chances are that you’ve heard about antioxidants at some point or another. However, very few people understand what antioxidants are and how they work to keep the body healthy. Coffee is regarded as being the most consumed beverage on earth. A vast majority of people drink coffee for its energizing properties which help to keep them awake and to work out harder for longer periods of time. But, did you know that it’s an extremely healthy beverage that’s packed with antioxidants? In fact, doctors recommend that diabetes patients should consume coffee to control their blood sugar levels. But the benefits don’t stop there. In today’s post, we take a closer look at some of the antioxidants that can be found in coffee such as brands like Glasshouse Mountains Coffee, as well as some information on how they work to keep the body healthy.
What Are Free Radicals?
In order for you to understand how antioxidants work, you have to understand what free radicals are. Free radicals can be best described as being unstable atoms that can damage the cells and accelerate the aging process as well as make you more vulnerable to illnesses. Interestingly enough, free radicals also play important roles when it comes to maintaining good health. For instance, our immune system utilizes free radicals when it comes to fighting infections. Said in plain terms, if antioxidants didn’t exist, free radicals would damage the body to the point where death is imminent. Therefore, in order for you to maintain good health, you need a healthy balance of antioxidants and free radicals. Oxidative stress can be best described as a term that is used to define having more free radicals than antioxidants. Oxidative stress can lead to damages in your DNA which leads to cancer. Several things can lead to excess free radical production such as cigarette smoke, air pollution, and antioxidant deficiency.
Coffee Is Rich In Antioxidants
As mentioned above, day-to-day lifestyle choices such as tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption lead to the formation of free radicals. In fact, everyone’s body is constantly being attacked by free radicals. By disarming free radicals, antioxidants can help us reduce our chances of getting cancer and protect us against accelerated aging. Coffee is rich in numerous potent antioxidants such as polyphenols and hydroxycinnamic acids.
Polyphenols can help to reduce your chances of getting certain conditions such as diabetes, cancer, stroke, and heart diseases. Polyphenols are also believed to have strong anti-inflammatory properties which can help to reduce inflammation. Inflammation is one of the main causes of many chronic illnesses such as heart disease and cancer. Meanwhile, hydroxycinnamic acids can help to neutralize free radicals, which helps to maintain a healthy free radical to antioxidant ratio, which prevents oxidative stress. Research shows that even though you can get antioxidants from foods, beverages like coffee are the biggest source of antioxidants. In fact, a study which was conducted in Finland showed that coffee was actually the biggest antioxidant source and accounted for 64% of the participant’s total antioxidant intake.
