A few years ago at McDonald’s, Sonic, 7-Eleven, and others—“Themer, what are you doing, and how can you drink that? And, WHY?”
WHAT? I was buying a soft drink with quite a bit of ice and also a good, dark, no-added-ingredients coffee, drinking the soda down to the bottom of the cup, and then pouring my “black coffee” into the cup and onto the “soda-doused” ice.
WHY? I was a regular “watcher” of Dr. Mehmet Oz and had heard him touting the benefits of drinking “black” dark coffee. I will admit that I did not believe everything he extolled on his television program, but what he said about coffee seemed to be not only possible, but probable!
PROBLEM? I did not like coffee of any type, and especially not “hot.” To make it iced coffee was not too difficult, because that was already being sold in stores and restaurants; however, to make it more palatable was also more of a problem! I tried the carbonation solution accidentally the first time when I was at McDonald’s and ordered a breakfast combo, which came with coffee as its beverage. Not wishing to drink that, I also then went back and ordered a “dollar drink” and filled the cup nearly full of ice as I was putting in the Diet Coke.
After finishing the breakfast and the soda, I still had a full container of coffee, and I am “tight,” as Betty Haynes once told me; so, I dumped it onto the ice and headed home, forcing myself to drink the mixture so as not to waste anything. And, you know, it was “tolerable.”
To make a long story shorter, I still do the same thing today—only intentionally, ordering a Diet Coke or Dr. Pepper and then dumping the un-sugared, un-creamed, un-anythinged coffee onto the ice after finishing the soda. In fact, now I enjoy the taste, and the harsher, stronger the flavor, the BETTER. And if it happens to be “mocha-flavored,” that is even better! And, yes, I am still teased about my peculiarity!
GOOD NEWS! Frontiers in Neuroscience (2018) states that “when coffee is roasted, compounds form that appear to have ‘neuroprotective’ activity! Research has shown that coffee contains compounds, such as caffeic acid, quercetin, chlorogenic acid, and phenylindane that contribute to this effect.”
And, Nutrients (2021) published a review that concludes “caffeine may exert some beneficial effects when used against Alzheimer’s Disease.”
Nutrients (2021) also reported that adding chocolate or cocoa to coffee may be even more helpful. Italian researchers stated that “older” people, who consumed two or more cups of mocha coffee each day, suffered less depression and posted better scores on cognitive function tests— noting that “this is the first study focused upon the association between a specific coffee preparation method (mocha) and cognitive impairment and late-life depression in homogenous populations of non-demented elderly subjects with Subcortical Ischemic Vascular Disease.” (sounds scholarly!)
Some more GOOD things I found out about coffee as I drank and researched “studies” are that it contains “anti-oxidants” and other “active” ingredients that protect against “internal inflammation” and protect against diseases.
Coffee drinkers are less likely to die from coronary heart disease, strokes, diabetes, and kidney diseases.
You (coffee drinkers) are less likely to contract or suffer extremes from Parkinson’s Disease.
Your liver enzymes are more likely to be in the normal range.
Your DNA will remain stronger longer.
Your odds of having colon cancer go way down!
Your odds of having a “stroke” are reduced.
You have a greater chance of being smarter and having more energy. (caffeine coffee)
It can help you burn fat! (caffeine coffee)
It may help with “regular elimination.”
It contains many essential nutrients.
It may lower the risk for certain cancers.
The final article I studied recently ended with this admonition: If you enjoy its taste, or at least do not find it undrinkable, and can tolerate its caffeine content (problems with “jitters”), do not hesitate to pour yourself a cup or more throughout the day.
I, personally, drink anywhere from one to four large cups of coffee per most days and, since I have become a “drinker of black coffee,” feel and perform much better and have much more stamina and energy! In fact, it is now nearing 11:00 p. m., and I am drinking an iced “coffee-soda” right now!
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