Tips for Drinking Coffee Healthily

Coffee is an essential part of conversations; it provides energy throughout the day, keeps you alert and helps you stay awake. Beyond all this, it also contributes to protection from many diseases. However, coffee must be prepared with quality materials under appropriate conditions and consumed in specific amounts. Dyt. Aslıhan Altuntaş from the Nutrition and Dietetics Department at Memorial Bahçelievler Hospital provided important information on proper coffee consumption.

Avoid Instant Coffee Products

To speak of healthy coffee, it is first necessary to address coffee types. The rapidly developing coffee culture today has introduced many varieties of coffee into our lives. First and foremost, it is not recommended to choose processed instant products called granule coffee sold in markets.

Limit Consumption of Flavored Coffee

The fundamental point of healthy coffee consumption is drinking plain coffee. If milk-based coffee is preferred, this ratio should be determined according to the daily milk intake the person should consume. However, very small amounts of milk added for minimal sweetness may be disregarded.

Choose Lightly to Medium Roasted Coffee Instead of Very Dark Roasted Coffee

Flavonoids found in fruits and vegetables are aromatic pigment compounds with beneficial biochemical and antioxidant effects. Heat treatment causes certain changes in flavonoids present in all nutrients. Since coffee also undergoes this change through heat treatment, some changes occur in its flavor. For this reason, lightly to medium roasted coffee should be preferred over very dark roasted coffee.

The Ideal Amount is 2 Cups Per Day

Like everything else, coffee should be approached with balance. However, the daily coffee consumption amount varies depending on the strength level of the coffee consumed. For example, the caffeine content of espresso is higher than filtered coffee. The strength of the coffee type also varies depending on the roasting method. For this reason, medium-strength level 3 and 4 coffees are recommended. The amount of coffee added is also important. The recommended daily consumption is 2 cups of 300-400 ml each made with approximately 2 teaspoons of coffee.

Do Not Consume Coffee on an Empty Stomach

Coffee purchased for home use should be purchased in amounts to be consumed within a maximum of 1-2 months. Keeping coffee for long periods is not suitable either in terms of flavor or in terms of the flavonoids it contains.

When Consumed Correctly, Coffee Provides Protection Against Many Diseases From Diabetes to Cancer

• Its most important and most discussed property is that it accelerates metabolism.
• It is recommended to be consumed before sports. Coffee consumed after training and intense exercise helps eliminate muscle pain and fatigue.
• It keeps you alert throughout the day.
• When consumed at an average of 2 cups per day, it provides protection against type 2 diabetes.
• It improves cognitive performance due to its caffeine content.
• It is known to reduce the formation of gallstones, particularly more common in men.
• It prevents and provides protection against rhythm damage caused by oxidative stress.
• It is known to reduce the risk of gout formation in men.
• Studies have shown that it reduces depression and the risk of depression.
• By improving cognitive performance, it reduces the risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
• Due to certain antioxidant substances such as caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid in its composition, it defends the body against all diseases and, since it protects DNA integrity, its consumption is also recommended in the treatment of certain cancer types.