J for Java
Or Joe or coffee or cafe or whatever else you would like to call it - is a real food with real health benefits.
I love coffee. Sometimes I look forward to going to bed at night because when I wake up I get coffee. I love the warmth and richness.
And the best thing about coffee...It is a Fruit!
Before I go into why it is a fruit I wanted to point out a bit about the health benefits. The nice thing about coffee is that more and more research seems to show benefits of drinking coffee. Of course not everyone will benefit from drinking coffee so it is important to do your own research as well. However, if you enjoy coffee but are worried that it is unhealthy, here are a couple articles that highlight coffee goodness.
May reduce risk of skin cancer
May reduce risk of dementia and Alzheimer's Disease
May reduce risk of developing type 2 Diabetes
May lower your risk of death
Okay back to the fruit. Coffee beans are actually the pit of a fruit. A coffee tree creates berries. When ripe they are red and about the size of a cherry. You can see a picture of the coffee fruit here. The seeds are called beans simply because of their shape. So since they are the pit of a fruit and we know that fruit is beneficial for our health, it makes sense (at least to me) that many studies are coming out that support a coffee/health connection.
More Coffee Fun Facts
Dark Roasts have the least amount of acidity
It takes ~ 4000 beans to make one pound of roasted coffee
Coffee trees can live up to 100 years.
Best temperature to brew coffee - 195 - 205 degrees Fahrenheit
Organic vs conventional coffee
Although I could not find actual scientific studies on pesticides in coffee, in the case of coffee, going organic might be a good thing. I don't buy everything organic, but when we are consuming several cups of coffee every single day, the possible exposure to pesticides is high. I did a great video talking about our exposure to toxins and pesticides and why to cleanse.
So I do go organic and right now this brand (affiliate link) of coffee is my favorite. It is organic and it is nice and strong.
For more real food tips, nutrition, and inspiration for your well-being:
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