I love coffee...

It goes without saying that I love coffee... the morning just isn't complete without it.
But there are certain times when the "caffeine" question creeps into my mind...is there such thing as too much of a good thing?!

I found a lovely article about the health benefits of coffee (from JoAnn Bayus over on www.mindbodygreen.com).

• Coffee is jam-packed full of antioxidants, which have been shown to reduce inflammation in the body;
• It has been shown to have protective effects to liver damage for those people at high risk of liver disease (in a study by A. Klasky of Kaiser Permanente’s Division of Research);
•  Drinking coffee has been linked to reduced risk of developing type-2 diabetes and reducing mortality rates associated with heart attacks;
  And it's good for brain function!
• Coffee has been proven to improve memory and reflexes, according to Tyler Graham and Dr. Drew Ramsay (authors of The Happiness Diet). 
• Coffee has also been shown to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and depression, as well as increasing mental focus and alertness.
  

Image: blog.seattlecoffeegear.com

    Hints and tips for getting the most from your brew:

• Don't mask the goodness of the coffee with loads of sugar, cream, and other things that detract from the delicious flavour or health benefits. 
• Choose the best quality coffee you can. Choose organic if possible as they will be free from pesticides and nasties.
• Enjoy coffee as part of a healthy lifestyle of good food, exercise and positive thinking. But do remember there CAN be too much of a good thing! 

I feel that I can be smugly confident that my morning ritual is actually good for my body as well as the soul!