Caffeine has been proven to reduce mental fatigue and increase concentration as well helping fight jet lag and stimulating the muscles for better physical performance. There is also an emerging body of research which suggests a link between coffee and the prevention of type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, strokes and certain types of cancers.

An online survey conducted by Nescafé proved that a majority of people in the Middle East face unnecessary guilt about their coffee consumption habits, with coffee lovers in KSA bearing the brunt of the burden.

“What this shows is that there are a lot of people in KSA who think they are drinking an excessive amount of coffee when in fact they are not. 3-4 cups of coffee per day (less than 300 mg of caffeine) is considered by nutritionists to be a moderate amount of coffee, allowing coffee lovers to get their daily dose of antioxidants without negatively impacting on their health,” said Lynn Al-Khatib, corporate nutritionist, Nestlé Middle East.

“On the contrary, when consumed in moderation, coffee is an excellent source of antioxidants that help protect the body from cell damage and contribute to overall good health and well-being which gives us one more reason to enjoy that morning cup,” explained Al-Khatib.

The study showed that only 40 percent have a clear understanding of what antioxidants are or how they affect their health, despite it being the latest health buzz. Although 75 percent of respondents in KSA believed antioxidants were beneficial to health, over 60 percent in admitted they were clueless on the subject matter.

Kuwait proved to be the most knowledgeable, with 60 percent of respondents claiming they had a clear understanding of antioxidants. This was followed by Qatar (47 percent) and the UAE (46 percent) compared to Lebanon (33 percent) and Yemen (18 percent).
 

Coffee is naturally rich in antioxidants.

Coffee contains caffeine that stimulates the brain and reduces mental fatigue: Numerous studies have demonstrated the beneficial mild stimulating effects of caffeine on the brain.

Caffeine assists in concentration and facilitates learning: When studying, coffee helps progress attention and wakefulness, increasing attentiveness.

Caffeine improves performance and enhances the mood: Studies have also shown that people who drink coffee moderately are relaxed and more interested in their work. The caffeine in coffee helps restore and maintain alertness

Coffee is great for exercise: Caffeine in coffee gives your body some extra energy, which can allow you to run or workout all that much longer, and possibly harder.
 

Controversy brewed over coffee until 15-10 years ago, as early research was conducted with inadequate study protocols, producing debatable results. A number of negative lifestyle habits and factors were not accounted in those studies such as smoking, lack of physical activity or excessive consumption of coffee, which — like excessive consumption of any other food — results in unbalanced dietary habits, leading to adverse effects. In addition, many early studies were conducted on laboratory animals, and it is not always possible to extrapolate such results to human.

All the above contributed to creating a negative image of coffee. However, coffee today is in fact one of the most researched beverages in the world, and cumulative recent coffee research findings on moderate consumption are pointing towards more and more possible positive impact on health. 
 

Coffee is not addictive. Enjoying coffee regularly may be described as a habit. Regulatory agencies such as the World Health Organization clearly mention in their studies that caffeine does not act on the brain the same way addictive substances do, and hence it could not be considered an addictive substance.
 

Studies have shown that drinking coffee in moderation, as part of a healthy balanced diet is not associated with the development of any cardiovascular problems

Moderate coffee consumption has also been proved safe for patients with heart disease, as it does not increase the frequency of cardiac arrhythmias. There’s, however, confounding factors for larger consumptions.
 

In a study involving 394 patients with heartburn, neither the acidity nor the strength of the coffee was associated with their reported heartburn.
 

Studies have shown that caffeine consumption below 300 mg/day is unlikely to produce adverse effects.

However, taking into consideration that pregnant women break down caffeine more slowly, studies suggest 200mg per day (2-3 cups of coffee a day) as being the upper limit of consumption.

A real coffee lover never settles for any cup of coffee. If it’s not strong and genuine coffee you would rather not have any at all. That is the motto of a real coffee fanatic. It is all about a better cup of coffee.