Coffee as health elixir: The benefits of morning joe

WASHINGTON – Coffee is the western world’s morning addiction, with coffee shops filling up each morning as bleary customers reach for their daily cup of joe.

Once thought bad for human health, new research indicates there may be more to coffee than just a quick pick-me-up, says health expert Chris Kilham, in a Fox News article.

Coffee produces natural antioxidants, such as flavonoids, that inhibit the “rusting” of body cells. Experts also say coffee can improve the flow of blood to the brain, enhancing the thought process.

Kilham says Harvard researchers also found that 300 milligrams of caffeine each day — two to three cups — lowered rates of depression in women and improved the overall mood of those tested, increasing feelings of happiness and creating a sense of well-being.

WTOP’s Del Walters contributed to this report. Follow @WTOP on Twitter.

(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

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