When it comes to choosing your drink at those numerous social-visits and parties, what should you go for- a glass of fruit juice or a cup of steaming coffee? Registered Dietitian Preethi Rahul gives you the facts on why coffee could work out better than fruit juice and how you must sip on it responsibly to gain optimum benefits
Often people think of coffee just as a vehicle for caffeine. But it's actually a very complex beverage with hundreds of different compounds in it. Having a small amount of caffeine (400-500 mg) improves your mental acuity, physical performance, reaction time, vigilance, visual processing, and even your mood state. Beyond the stipulated amount, caffeine can produce adverse reactions. Often, drinking coffee can lead to a healthy outcome, but the amount and type of coffee you drink definitely matters! It is the type of coffee and how you drink it that makes it better that fruit juice.
Coffee Vs Fruit Juice
Scientists believe that the antioxidants in the coffee help deliver insulin to the body tissues. Research also suggests that decaffeinated coffee actually reduces the glucose response. Fruit Juices, on the other hand, most often they contain sugar. Even if they do not contain sugar, fruits in the form of juice are easily digested and lack fibre. It adds on to the weight. Thus, they are definitely a no-no for Diabetics.
Packaged fruit juices that are usually served up contain colours, preservatives and chemicals which can lead to cancer, if they are beyond permissible amounts. Any day a whole fruit is better than having fruit juice, especially sweetened fruit juice. On the other hand, a small cup of coffee is likely to do you good as it contains an active compound called methylpyridinium that boosts enzymes thought to prevent colon cancer.
In general, coffee is considered better for your health as it contains more soluble fiber than orange juice. Many people start the day with a glass of orange juice because they believe it is a health food, but it contains the same amount of sugar as a glass of Coca Cola. Soluble fiber is beneficial because it blocks the formation of cholesterol, and also lowers high blood pressure by widening the arteries.
Choose your coffee sensibly
Coffee contains a substance called cafestol that is a potent stimulator of LDL cholesterol levels. Cafestol is found in the oily fraction of coffee, and when you brew coffee with a paper filter, the cafestol gets left behind in the filter. Boiled coffee, French press coffee, or Turkish coffee, are much higher in cafestol. Espresso is somewhere in the middle; it has less cafestol than boiled or French press coffee, but more than paper filtered coffee. Hence to prevent LDL increase; it is better to have paper filtered or instant coffee. And in any case, most wedding parties will in fact this variety of coffee on offer, so you have nothing to fear.
Simple is better than sinful
The addition of cream, sugar, whipped cream, and flavorings can turn coffee from a healthful beverage into a not-so-healthful one. For example, a 500 ml Mocha Chip Frappuccino with Chocolate Whipped Cream contains 470 calories. Along with it you get 12 grams of saturated fats-nearly a day's worth-and 71 grams of sugar, the equivalent of 17 teaspoons of sugar! So have a cup of black coffee for maximum benefits!
Whatever be your choice of coffee, keep a watch on your consumption for your health sake!
Coffee Vs Fruit Juice
Scientists believe that the antioxidants in the coffee help deliver insulin to the body tissues. Research also suggests that decaffeinated coffee actually reduces the glucose response. Fruit Juices, on the other hand, most often they contain sugar. Even if they do not contain sugar, fruits in the form of juice are easily digested and lack fibre. It adds on to the weight. Thus, they are definitely a no-no for Diabetics.
Packaged fruit juices that are usually served up contain colours, preservatives and chemicals which can lead to cancer, if they are beyond permissible amounts. Any day a whole fruit is better than having fruit juice, especially sweetened fruit juice. On the other hand, a small cup of coffee is likely to do you good as it contains an active compound called methylpyridinium that boosts enzymes thought to prevent colon cancer.
In general, coffee is considered better for your health as it contains more soluble fiber than orange juice. Many people start the day with a glass of orange juice because they believe it is a health food, but it contains the same amount of sugar as a glass of Coca Cola. Soluble fiber is beneficial because it blocks the formation of cholesterol, and also lowers high blood pressure by widening the arteries.
Choose your coffee sensibly
Coffee contains a substance called cafestol that is a potent stimulator of LDL cholesterol levels. Cafestol is found in the oily fraction of coffee, and when you brew coffee with a paper filter, the cafestol gets left behind in the filter. Boiled coffee, French press coffee, or Turkish coffee, are much higher in cafestol. Espresso is somewhere in the middle; it has less cafestol than boiled or French press coffee, but more than paper filtered coffee. Hence to prevent LDL increase; it is better to have paper filtered or instant coffee. And in any case, most wedding parties will in fact this variety of coffee on offer, so you have nothing to fear.
Simple is better than sinful
The addition of cream, sugar, whipped cream, and flavorings can turn coffee from a healthful beverage into a not-so-healthful one. For example, a 500 ml Mocha Chip Frappuccino with Chocolate Whipped Cream contains 470 calories. Along with it you get 12 grams of saturated fats-nearly a day's worth-and 71 grams of sugar, the equivalent of 17 teaspoons of sugar! So have a cup of black coffee for maximum benefits!
Whatever be your choice of coffee, keep a watch on your consumption for your health sake!
