Me and my coffee

Don't speak to me before my morning coffee, please. Before my first cup of coffee I'm still asleep and very grumpy, but as soon as I drink it, my mood begins to rise. Being the most popular drink in the world, coffee has been considered both a bad habit and a healthy choice. Recently, scientists have been able to change our perception about coffee and given this old beverage a fresh new look.

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  Coffee improves physical and mental performance, reduces fatigue and boosts concentration. Also, coffee contains a huge amount of antioxidants, surpassing tea, cocoa and red wine. Drinking this brew helps prevent type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, cirrhosis and certain kinds of cancer. Considering all this, scientists have concluded that the benefits of drinking coffee are greater than the side effects.

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  How much is too much coffee? Well, that depends. Several reputed and objective institutions have pointed out that it is safe to consume up to 5 cups of coffee a day. By cup they mean 250 ml or 8 oz of black coffee, not a gigantic glass of coffee with large amounts of milk, caramel, chocolate, sugar and whipped cream. These “extras” add a great amount of calories, sugar and fat that will greatly overcome the benefits cited and may turn your coffee into a recipe for disaster.

   For me and my family, coffee has been a very important part of our lives. One of my very first memories is my mom giving me some of her coffee: I was barely 3 years old and was already in love with it. I will not discuss the pros and cons of exposing young children to caffeine, but I want to make a point about how much I love the stuff. Enjoy your coffee responsibly and start reaping the health benefits of this wonderful drink.

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