IS Coffee: More Harmful or Helpful?

Aliso Viejo Weight Loss Says:
If you're a coffee drinker, you’ll be happy to know that more and more studies are suggesting that coffee (both caffeinated and decaffeinated) offers health benefits, including a reduced risk of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), Parkinson’s and gall bladder disease. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), researchers found a link between drinking coffee and T2D. The study, conducted in Finland - where coffee consumption is higher than anywhere else in the world – found that diabetes risk among women drinking three to four cups a day decreased by 29 percent. In men, three to four cups decreased risk by 27 percent. A large epidemiologic study in the U.S (41,934 men and 84,276 women) confirmed the Dutch study findings and additionally found decaffeinated coffee consumption to reduce the risk of T2D. While caffeine increases energy expenditure and may be beneficial for maintenance of body weight/weight loss, studies consistently show it also decreases insulin sensitivity and impairs glucose tolerance.

Frank Hu, MD, PhD, an Associate Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology at Harvard School of Public health and co-author of the U.S. study, explains why coffee reduces risk of T2D, "One reason is that coffee is not just caffeine. Coffee has large amounts of other ingredients, for example, antioxidants and minerals like magnesium. And those minerals and antioxidants actually are beneficial for blood sugar metabolism and insulin sensitivity." This could explain why decaffeinated coffee affects T2D risk as well as caffeinated.

JAMA, July 6, 2005; 294: 97-104
Annals of Internal Medicine, January 6, 2004 Vol. 140 No. 1
Robard Corp Fall 2007 Health Update

A Delicious Way to Add Iron To your Diet

A good food source of iron contributes 10-19 percent of the Daily Value (DV) in an individual serving size. The DV for iron is 18 milligrams (mg) per day for females ages 19-50 (except pregnant or lactating women) and 8 mg/day for men ages 19-50.

Iron is a mineral that functions primarily as a carrier of oxygen from the lungs to the cells throughout the body. According to the World Health Organization, Iron deficiency is the number one nutritional disorder in the world. Of the world’s population, as many as 80% may be iron deficient, while 30% may have iron deficiency anemia. Iron deficiency develops over time and usually begins with a negative iron balance, when iron intake does not meet the daily need for dietary iron.

Eating a variety of foods that contain iron is the best way to ensure you are getting an adequate amount. Our delicious new smoothies are an excellent source of iron (20%), high in protein, low in fat and full of other essential vitamins and minerals.

MMWR Recomm Rep 1998; 47:1-29
J Nutr 2001; 131:565S-7S
Robard Corp Fall 2007 Health Update

For more information about Orange County Medical Weight Loss near Costa Mesa please contact Valens Medical Weight Loss Clinic or to schedule a consultation with our physician.

www.valensmedical.com