Polyphenols, free radicals and caffeine… carriers of health
Whether it’s pineapple, chocolate, green, black, red, yellow tea and other grapefruits, grapes and wine tannins… polyphenols, organic molecules with antioxidant properties, are numerous. A recent study points out that there are also beneficial effects with the chlorogenic acid contained in coffee, in particular with regard to obesity.
Polyphenols, various and numerous
Depending on their composition, the classification of these substances is divided into a dozen classes. That of flavoids includes grapefruit, strawberries; that of coumarins parsley, carrots, coriander, etc. We know that certain foods are good for fighting against the effects of time, societal diseases, transit…
Fruits and vegetables, widely acclaimed by the WHO, contain a large proportion of these chemical molecules . Hence the recommendation to eat five fruits and vegetables a day. Red, orange and yellow colored foods contain remarkable antioxidants . It is a simple rule that is easy to follow and that allows you to enjoy the benefits of these compounds with special health properties.
However, the most important source of pholyphenols would come from coffee…
Coffee and its chlorogenic acid
No fewer than a thousand constituents, including caffeine , are present in coffee. Regarding the latter, it is dosed at 40 mg in espresso and more than 60 mg in filter coffee. This drink contains mineral salts, such as potassium, which plays a fundamental role in the water system and nervous functions in humans, as well as vitamins B3 which help to better manage stress.
In addition, coffee has antioxidant properties through the presence of the phenols that compose it such as quinine and chlorogenic acid (between 200 and 500 mg per cup). Thus, drinking about three cups of coffee a day would have positive effects on aging thanks to antioxidants and on weight gain thanks to the “fat burner” virtues of polyphenols. However, obesity is not the only pathology to be affected.
The effects of caffeine on certain pathologies
For nervous pathologies, caffeine plays a protective role in Parkinson’s disease by targeting a dopamine receptor which is altered. The same is true for cognitive declines as in Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists have established that caffeine has a “ restorative ” function after stroke.
For cardiovascular diseases, caffeine had, until now, a bad reputation. But the hyper tensor effects of caffeine are stabilized by the action of polyphenols which reduce tension, calm and soothe. Moreover, the anti-stress effect of the latter is well and truly highlighted during the study published in the journal Pharmaceutical Research (1) .
For cancers, caffeine has various actions: little influence in cancer of the larynx, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, kidneys, ovaries and bladder, it would have a beneficial effect on the liver , colon and rectum, prostate, endometrium and skin. This favorable action would be essentially due to polyphenols . For diabetes, it is the effect of antioxidants that would reduce tissue inflammation, and therefore excess free radicals and bad cholesterol. Osteoporosis would be improved by taking a few cups of coffee a day. Be careful, however, not to consume this drink after 4 p.m. because of its renowned psychoactive effect .
Multiple clinical trials are still underway to confirm the positive effects of reasonable coffee consumption in humans.
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.