coffee drinkers Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Ingredient In Coffee Improves Your Memory (It’s NOT Caffeine)

The AHA! Team — Fri, 02 May 2025 05:34:35 +0000

Al Sears, MD, CNS – If you think the caffeine in your morning cup o’ joe is solely responsible for its coveted brain-boosting benefits, you’re not alone. After all, caffeine is a key reason why 81% of Americans get their day going by drinking at least two cups of coffee every day.1 And studies prove this naturally occurring herbal stimulant can improve both short-term and long-term memory2,3 increase alertness and reduce fatigue,4 and enhance cognition.5 But coffee has a special helper that most people don’t know about. I’m talking about a little-known compound called trigonelline, a unique form of vitamin B3 (niacin). Trigonelline, which is also found in fenugreek seeds, Japanese radishes, and hemp seeds, has been shown to:6 Increase spatial learning and memory Support nervous system development Enhance mitochondrial function and Increase key neurotransmitters in the hippocampus of the brain But its key brain benefit is that it suppresses neuroinflammation. As a regular reader, you know how dangerous inflammation is, and how it’s often a key factor in chronic diseases, especially in the brain. You see, breakthrough research confirms that amyloid plaques – the misfolded proteins that are a key symptom of Alzheimer’s disease – are caused by a breakdown of the immune system, triggered by widespread inflamm-aging. Amyloid plaques prevent neurons from working properly. When your brain is inflamed and your immune system can no longer clear away these rogue proteins, they cluster together and gum up the signaling networks between your neurons. Eventually, it leads to memory loss and confusion. At the same time, inflammation squeezes the blood vessels in your brain, restricting oxygen supply, causing cell damage, loss of brain tissue, and cell death. A new study, aimed at investigating the therapeutic potential of trigonelline, revealed it may effectively treat Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, epilepsy, and depression7 by preventing oxidative stress.8 Oxidative stress can feel like brain fog, chronic fatigue, or a headache. It can also result in memory loss, infections, and serve as a catalyst for inflammatory diseases.9 Preventing oxidative stress helps control your body’s inflammatory response. The implications of these studies for trigonelline as a neuroenhancer, and for coffee lovers are huge. Coffee lovers can rejoice in knowing there is truly something special about their cup of joe other caffeinated beverages can’t match. Get The Most Out Of Your Cup Of Coffee Drinking a cup or two of coffee is the best way to increase trigonelline levels. Here’s what I recommend: Choose Arabica coffee. While both Arabica and robusta coffee beans contain this brain-saving enzyme, concentrations are twice as high in Arabica. Look for certified organic beans. Not only are they higher in antioxidants, they don’t use any synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. I also suggest looking for “Fairtrade” on the label. This protects traditional small coffee farmers. Drink it fresh. Grind your coffee at the time you wish to drink it. This maximizes the flavor and prevents oxidation. Coffee’s healing properties are best when brewed fresh. Drink it black. The best benefits of coffee are delivered in its purest state. Adding dairy products and sweeteners may alter the taste, but it will also diminish the rewards. If you’re not a fan of coffee, you can supplement with fenugreek capsules. I suggest taking 500 mg a day. To Your Good Health, Al Sears, MD, CNS References: Buchholz K. “How many cups of coffee do Americans drink each day?” January 2023. https://www.statista.com/chart/19524/cups-of-coffee-drunk-by-americans-per-day/ Accessed on November 30, 2023. Sherman S, et al. “Caffeine Enhances Memory Performance in Young Adults during Their Non-optimal Time of Day.” Front Psychol. 2016; 7: 1764. Borota D, et al. “Post-study caffeine administration enhances memory consolidation in humans.” Nat Neurosci. 2014 Feb;17(2):201-3. Nehlig, A. “Is caffeine a cognitive enhancer? J Alzheimer’s Dis. 2010;20(S1):S85-S94. Zhang B, et al. “Cognition and brain activation in response to various doses of caffeine: a near-infrared spectroscopy study.” Front Psychol. 2020 July 3;1393. Aktar S, et al. “Transcriptomics and biochemical evidence of trigonelline ameliorating learning and memory decline in the senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) model by suppressing proinflammatory cytokines and elevating neurotransmitter release.” GeroScience. 2023. Zia S, et al. “Unlocking therapeutic potential of trigonelline through molecular docking as a promising approach for treating diverse neurological disorders.” Metabolic Brain Disease. 2023. Chowdhury A, et al. “Trigonelline insulates against oxidative stress, proinflammatory cytokines and restores BDNF levels in lipopolysaccharide induced cognitive impairment in adult mice.” Metab Brain Dis. 2018;33(3):681-691. Pizzino G, et al. “Oxidative stress: Harms and benefits for human health.” Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2017:8416763. To read the original article click here.

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Drinking THIS Popular Beverage Slashes Depression and Suicide Risk by Half, According to Study

AHA Publisher — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 07:00:30 +0000

Karen Sanders via NaturalHealth365 – In the song “9 to 5,” from the 1980 movie of the same name, singer Dolly Parton refers to coffee as a “cup of ambition.” Now, emerging research indicates that coffee’s potential benefits extend far beyond increasing motivation; according to one study, coffee may even help prevent suicide. Other recent studies show that coffee can help protect against dementia, Parkinson’s disease, as well as a host of other serious conditions. The research is quite interesting. Coffee Consumption Cuts Risk of Suicide Almost in Half Although the results may sound like a coffee advertising executive’s dream come true, the research on coffee and suicide was conducted by professors of epidemiology and nutrition at the highly credible Harvard School of Public Health, and published in July 2013 in The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry. The study, which took over two decades to complete and involved nearly a quarter of a million participants, showed that people who drank two to three cups of coffee a day are at much lower risk of killing themselves than drinkers of decaffeinated coffee and non-coffee drinkers. In fact, daily, moderate coffee consumption slashed suicide rates by almost 50 percent – a truly astounding figure. One can’t help but think that if a pharmaceutical antidepressant achieved this type of dramatic benefit, manufacturers would be shouting it from the rooftops. Of course, it almost goes without saying, we are not suggesting that people drink any of the popular brands – sold in coffee shops – loaded with horrible (added) sweeteners and other junk ingredients. As with anything you choose to consume, it should be of the highest quality sources to reduce the risk of toxicity from chemicals. Back to the study: the results, although surprising, didn’t come out of the blue; past epidemiological studies have shown lower rates of depression among coffee drinkers. Researchers believe that coffee’s mood-lifting effects stem from the way it increases the production of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline. WARNING: Ingesting Excessive Caffeine Can Still Be Problematic The researchers stopped short of advising that people suffering from depression increase their coffee intake. Noting that most people naturally adjust their caffeine levels to an amount that is optimal for them, the team added that drinking more than three cups of coffee a day – or ingesting over 400 milligrams of caffeine – carries no additional benefit, and can cause unpleasant side effects. In fact, a Finnish study showed that individuals who drank large quantities of coffee – eight and nine cups a day – actually had a higher suicide risk than moderate coffee drinkers. According to just-released research, caffeine in coffee can actually help to prevent Parkinson’s disease According to a Swedish study published in July 2014 in the scientific journal PLoS One, coffee – along with the presence of a certain genetic mutation – can help prevent Parkinson’s disease. While both genetic and environmental factors play a role in the development of the neurodegenerative condition, researchers have found that variations in one specific gene – a glutamate receptor gene known as GRIN2A – can help to protect against it. Caffeine, which integrates with the dopamine receptor, works in conjunction with the genetic mutation to lower Parkinson’s risk. Organic Coffee Has More to Offer Than Just Its Caffeine Content Coffee has extremely high levels of potent antioxidants, including trigonelline, catechol, and N-methylpyrinidium. In fact, researchers say that an ordinary cup of coffee contains 1,000 different compounds. Further study is needed to explore the full effects of these beneficial substances. Meanwhile, evidence of the link between coffee and longer life continues to accumulate. In a study of 400,000 participants conducted by the National Cancer Institute and the American Association of Retired People and published in 2012 in New England Journal of Medicine, researchers found that older adults who drank multiple cups of coffee (every day) – whether decaf or “high-test” – had lower risks of death overall than non-coffee drinkers. Participants were less likely to die from heart and respiratory disease, stroke, infection, and diabetes, as well as less likely to suffer fatal injuries and accidents. Other studies have linked coffee drinking to better blood vessel health and to reduced risk of certain cancers, including oral cancer, liver cancer, and a lethal form of prostate cancer. Coffee May Not Be Appropriate for Everyone According to Mayo Clinic, up to 400 milligrams of caffeine, a day is safe for most healthy adults. However, children should not ingest caffeine at all, and teens should not consume more than 100 milligrams a day. Caffeine, which is classified as a stimulant, can cause adverse effects in some individuals, including anxiety, insomnia, irritability, stomach upset, and muscle tremors. Taking certain medications or herbs along with coffee can intensify the effects of caffeine. And, of course, people with anxiety disorders should avoid caffeinated coffee. If you are in doubt about safe caffeine consumption, talk to a trusted integrative physician. Finally, again, for maximum health benefit – look for fair trade, organic coffee that is free of pesticides and chemicals. Then, enjoy your cup of “joe.” From what the latest research tells us, a cup of fresh-brewed, flavorful organic coffee really is good to the last drop. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov ScienceDaily.com ScienceDaily.com NIH.gov MayoClinic.org To read the original article click here.

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