Are There Health Benefits to Drinking Coffee?

According to the National Coffee Association (NCA) more than half of all Americans over the age of 18 drink coffee daily, and 18.12% go for the designer stuff. On average, Americans drink three and a half cups a day, which amounts to approximately $161.71 per year. (Per capita, men drink slightly more than women which is anyone's guess as to why.)

Some Trivia About Coffee
•Norway leads the world in coffee consumption; Germany is second; and Japan ranks third.
•Next to oil, coffee is the world’s second-most-valuable commodity.
•The two leading coffee-producing nations are Brazil and Vietnam; however Brazil produces almost three times as much as Vietnam.
•The word “coffee” comes from Kaffa, a region in Ethiopia where coffee beans may have been discovered.
•Coffee was considered a forbidden drink in the 16th century by the Mufti of Constantinople. Users in Cairo, Mecca and Turkey were punished if caught drinking it since it was supposed to encourage Satan worship among other sins.
•A “cappuccino” was created in the 17th century when the Turks left a bitter coffee behind when they fled Vienna. The Christians added milk and named the concoction after the religious order of the priest Capuchin.
Some More Interesting Facts
To date, Starbucks Coffee Company is the leading retailer, roaster and brand of specialty coffee with over 9,000 retail locations in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim. And their Joe has the must buckshot of all the leading brands. A16-ounce Starbucks house blend contains 223 milligrams of caffeine, and a 16-ounce Starbucks Grande has nearly three times as much caffeine as a No-Doze.

Should Coffee be Taxed?
Fortunately, for imbibers, unlike tobacco, coffee is not government regulated. If it were taxed, the price might be $7.50 a cup, which is what a pack of cigarettes goes for in New York City. Maybe that’s one strategy to get coffee addicts to go cold turkey.

Coffee and Health
Though some would strongly disagree, the latest medical reports claim coffee consumption is actually good for our health. According to the International Journal of Cancer, Reuters Health, “Consumption of caffeinated coffee significantly reduces the risk of developing breast cancer among women who have a specific genetic mutation that greatly increases the chance of being diagnosed with the disease.” (Jan. 4, 2006 edition.) And moderate consumption is said to improve mood, and prevent gallstone and kidney stone formation.



Source: http://foodfacts.suite101.com/