Black Coffee vs. Dark Coffee Roasts

 

Coffee is rich in several types of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that reduce the risk of many serious health conditions like cancer and heart disease by fighting cell damage. Coffee also contains moderate amounts of vitamin B2 and magnesium. Thus you could get health benefits from drinking moderate amounts of coffee:

Alzheimer’s disease prevention.

More than one study has linked regular coffee intake to a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. In one study, middle-aged people who drank three to four daily cups of coffee had a 65% lower risk of developing dementia when they got older. On the other hand, another study found that people who drank more than six cups of coffee a day had a 53% higher risk of dementia.

Parkinson’s disease prevention.

Several studies have shown that the more coffee you drink, the less likely you are to develop Parkinson’s disease. If you already have Parkinson’s, it can help you gain better control over your movements.

Reduced risk of cancer.

Studies have found that coffee may help lower the risk for some forms of cancer, including breast, colorectal, and liver cancers due to coffee’s antioxidants. However, coffee may also contain very small amounts of a chemical called acrylamide, considered a possible carcinogen.

Reduced risk of cirrhosis.

Drinking coffee can reduce the risk of the late-stage liver disease cirrhosis, especially when the damage comes from alcohol. One large study found that drinking four or more cups a day could reduce your risk of alcoholic cirrhosis by as much as 80%. Drinking the same amount may reduce your risk of non-alcoholic cirrhosis by up to 30%.

Improved mood.

Because caffeine is a stimulant, coffee is a known mood-booster.  Studies have shown that coffee may even help reduce your risk of depression, especially if you drink four or more cups per day.

Diabetes management.

Drinking coffee can reduce your chances of getting type 2 diabetes. One large study showed that for every extra cup of coffee a person drank each day, their diabetes risk dropped by 11%. Drinking one less cup of coffee per day increased the risk by 17%. But if you already have type 2 diabetes, coffee can raise both blood sugar and insulin levels.

Weight management.

There is some evidence that the caffeine in coffee could help with weight control. One study found that people who drank more caffeinated drinks were slightly less likely to gain weight than those who cut down on coffee and tea. Another showed that people who drank caffeinated beverages 30 minutes to 4 hours before meals tended to eat less.

But drinking coffee with lots of high-calorie cream and sugar is likely to outweigh any weight-control benefits of caffeine.

Also, too much caffeine can cause jittery feelings, anxiety, insomnia and a fast heart rate. It can also lead to digestive problems like an upset stomach and nausea. Coffee gives some people heartburn.

Black Coffee

Black coffee is simply coffee with nothing added – no cream, no milk, no sweetener. When you leave out those extra ingredients, you leave out the calories, fat, and sugar that come with them. A cup of plain black coffee is just 3–4 calories. Thus it has become a popular choice in many weight loss plans while its regular consumption also decreases the chances of developing such illnesses as type two diabetes, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and various conditions affecting the liver such as cirrhosis and liver cancer.

A cup of plain black coffee contains over 1000 bioactive compounds, it is basically an antioxidant powerhouse that the body genuinely benefits from, if consumed in moderation.

Antioxidants contained in black coffee decrease inflammation, improve sensitivity to insulin and regulate glucose metabolism.

Several studies show that besides improving endurance and strength, black coffee reduces delayed onset muscle soreness by up to 50% at the 48 hour post workout mark. When combined with post workout carbs, it boosts muscle glycogen replenishment by nearly 65%.

Having between two and four cups per day appears to constitute the optimum level, after which the stimulative effect caused by caffeine leads to the increase of the production of cortisol as well as negative impact on sleep and cardiovascular system health, decreasing the positive effects of antioxidants that black coffee offers. It also makes sense to drink it not immediately upon waking up, as consumption of coffee within first ninety minutes blocks the awakening cortisol response of one's body, making early morning not the best time.

Dark-roast Coffee

Coffee beans are picked when they are green, then roasted to bring out their flavor. Darker roasts are roasted at a higher temperature, and for a longer time, than lighter roasts. The darker the roast, the stronger and more bitter the taste of the coffee. The benefits of dark-roast coffee include:

Antioxidant levels. Light roasted coffee has been found to contain higher levels of the antioxidants polyphenol and chlorogenic acid than darker roasts. These compounds may be damaged during the longer, hotter roasting process for dark coffees. However, research has also shown that dark coffee may have higher total antioxidant activity.

Cholesterol-raising compound. A study that looked at coffee brewed without a filter (such as French press) found that dark roast coffee contained slightly less of a substance called cafestol than lighter roasts. Cafestol is thought to increase cholesterol levels.

Digestive symptoms. One small study from 2004 concluded that the level of roasting made no difference in whether people who drank coffee got digestive symptoms like heartburn and stomach aches afterward. A newer but even smaller study found that people who drank dark roast produced less stomach acid than those who drank a medium roast.

Weight control. Another small study found that overweight people who drank about 2 cups of dark roasted coffee a day lost slightly more weight during the 4-week study period than those who had the same amount of light roast coffee.