On this day in 1773, in what is known as the Boston Tea Party, American colonists disguised as Mohawk Indians threw 342 chests of tea belonging to the British East India Company into Boston Harbor to protest a tax on tea, says Britannica. Nowadays, American’s consume around 85 billion servings of tea, or more than 3.9 billion gallons a year.
We sometimes get a bit lazy and just stir up a cup of instant coffee. No coffee snobs here. Plus it saves cleaning the French press or tossing a thousand k-cups every year into the landfill. But is instant as healthy for us as regular coffee? Coffee offers some real health benefits, both mental and physical. Health.com sat down with several pots of coffee and some scientists and did a comparison. Short answer? Both are good but regular coffee is better for you. When drinking instant, go with freeze-dried. So mostly good news. And maybe it’s time for us to buy a Mr. Coffee drip coffee maker since we gave our ancient percolator away.
– Jet Cannon
Peet’s Coffee is helping us celebrate National Coffee Day on September 29th by introducing concentrated coffee. While we weren’t sure we needed anything more concentrated than espresso, the bit below about an “indulgent espresso martini” did catch our eye.
“Ultra Coffee is crafted from Peet’s boldest and most versatile blend, Espresso Forte, and is the perfect addition to any beverage — whether it’s hot, iced, or even sparkling. For those feeling adventurous, add a splash of Ultra Coffee to craft an indulgent espresso martini, whip up a java-forward crumbly coffee cake, or spruce up an everyday latte.”
This may be just what we need for Monday mornings.
– Jet Cannon
We could use one right now. An energy drink. Then we read the warning label. Not really. But we did do a few InterWeb searches and were reminded that loads of caffeine and sugar might not be in our best health interest. What about zero sugar energy drinks? Only half as bad! With up to 300 mg of caffeine in energy drinks, compared to the 100mg in a cup of coffee, our senior citizen heart and blood pressure might not take kindly to the jolt, especially if tested on a regular basis.. Meanwhile, the UK is contemplating banning energy drinks for kids under the age of 16. What do they need more energy for anyway? Boomers deserve a Buzz! In moderation, as always. Sigh.
– Jet Cannon
What happens if you drink the same kind of coffee too much? You get deja-brew.
Sorry about that. But we just read an article on the pros and cons of decaf versus regular. Boiling it down, both still seem to be beneficial to your health. So that’s good. Drink the one that works best for you. We’ll keep drinking regular. In moderation. Like everything else in life. Moderation.
Today, coffee is good for you, say scientists. Tomorrow? Who knows. Let’s run with the idea that it is good and review a way to make it better for gut health, according to one gastroenterologist. Read all about it in this Well and Good article but we’ll cut to the chase. Add cinnamon. That’s right. Cinnamon. Anti-oxidants, a bit of fiber, plus a way to vary the taste. We tried it this morning and then ran a marathon. Well, we did try it. And we will throw it into rotation. The doctor says soy milk is another way to further benefit the gut during our coffee break. But what about cream and sugar?!
Is coffee bad for your heart? Cause dehydration? Addictive? Help you lose weight? Or is barrister-made coffee stronger in caffeine than your coffee at home? Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope and nope. Read more about it in Prevention here.
– Jet Buzzed Cannon
Earl Grey is a type of tea traditionally made by flavoring black tea with the oil of bergamot, a type of citrus fruit native to Italy. Earl Grey tea is made with a blend of black tea and bergamot oil, which is extracted from bergamot orange, a citrus fruit native to Italy. According to Health.com, black tea, which is the base of Earl Grey tea, is an excellent source of plant compounds that have antioxidant effects in the body.
Antioxidants help protect against cellular damage by neutralizing highly reactive substances called free radicals. When free radical levels get too high, it overwhelms the body’s antioxidant defenses, which leads to a condition called oxidative stress. Oxidative stress, which is associated with tissue damage and chronic inflammation, is considered a main driver behind the onset and progression of several health conditions, including certain cancers and heart disease. Studies show that people who regularly consume black tea, are less likely to develop certain health conditions compared to those who don’t.
For example, regularly drinking black may protect against ovarian cancer, depression, heart disease, and several other health conditions. Black tea drinkers may also have a reduced risk of developing oral cancer. Additionally, drinking Earl Grey tea may help reduce heart disease risk factors like high blood pressure.
But where’s the Buzz? Well, black tea can boost cognitive and exercise performance.Though the caffeine content of black tea varies, research suggests it contains around 47 mg per cup on average. That’s a little more than half the amount found in a cup of brewed coffee.
Sounds like some pretty good reasons to throw some Earl Grey into the mix!
– Jet Cannon
Inflammation is bad. It is your immune system’s response to an irritant, injury, or infection. In chronic inflammation, your inflammation doesn’t go away, and your immune system continues to send out white blood cells. Your white blood cells may attack healthy organs and tissues. Can drinking tea help with inflammation? After reading about a National Institute of Health study and this WebMD article, we can definitely say…. Probably. Maybe. Also, it’s likely tea helps with brain, bone, and heart health. Hey, it’s tea time somewhere.
Play it safe. No. Especially if one has medical conditions as many of us do. Most anything fun is risky for us at our age.
Panera Bread is being sued over ‘Charged Lemonade’ energy drink after 21-year-old woman with a heart condition dies. As Yahoo reports and suggests, “This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle.”
Energy drinks usually have a lot more caffeine than is found is coffee, tea or soft drinks hence the added risk. For generating energy, consider a nap but…. See warning above!!
– Jet Cannon
We store our coffee completely wrong but we’re not likely to change. The brew still tastes pretty darn good. Anyway, we read this bit in Real Simple. Good advice on coffee storage but how about Scott’s job?? “The best way to keep ground coffee or whole beans fresh is to store the coffee on a pantry shelf in an opaque, airtight container. It should be away from light, heat, and moisture, says Scott McMartin, who has tasted more than half a million cups of coffee as a member of the Starbucks Green Coffee Quality group.” Getting paid to drink coffee. What are the hours?
Neuroscience News reports that engaging with music or consuming coffee is linked to peak cognitive performance. AI-generated music, in particular, showed significant performance boosts, opening new avenues for exploration. That sounds scary to us so what about just listening to music about coffee while enjoying a cup??
The Coffee Song – Frank Sinatra
Cup of Coffee – Johnny Cash
Coffee Shop – Red Hot Chili Peppers
One Cup of Coffee – Bob Marley and the Wailers
One MORE Cup of Coffee – Bob Dylan
Java Jive – The Ink Spots
Cigarettes and Coffee – Otis Redding
We believe more research, coffee, and music is warranted. Meanwhile, click here to read the article.
– Jet Cannon
Could coffee plus milk help us recover from exercise faster? Men’s Health reports, “There are many well-established ways to help speed up post-workout repair, ranging from hydrating properly and fueling up on protein for muscle-synthesis support to consuming more omega-3 fats for joint health. Among the most recent solutions, however, is one that comes with a buzz. A study published in the Journal Of Agricultural And Food Chemistry reported that the anti-inflammatory effect of antioxidants (called polyphenols) is vastly enhanced when they react with amino acids. In practical terms, unlocking this could be as simple as adding protein-rich milk to coffee, which is packed with antioxidants. Research into the post-gym benefits of this everyday cocktail is, admittedly, in its early stages. The Danish researchers, however, are buzzing with excitement that increasing polyphenol absorption in this way could prove an effective way to ease swelling and soreness.”
– Jet Cannon
