Coffee's Antioxidants May Keep Cells Healthy

Despite its many noted health benefits, coffee is most frequently consumed as a stimulant to help keep us alert and awake, especially in the morning. In contrast, antioxidant-rich green tea is perceived as a natural health product that might ward off cancer and disease. While this is true, mounting evidence is pointing to the fact that coffee is an antioxidant powerhouse that can be just as good as its leafy alternatives.

Coffee is actually loaded with antioxidants that help protect our cells from damage from free radicals that may cause Alzheimer's and heart disease. Free radicals are unstable compounds that we are constantly exposed to in the environment that high jack the stability of our healthy calls by attacking them. Not many people are aware that caffeine is actually an antioxidant, and coffee is one of the main sources of antioxidants in people's diets.

Thanks to new research published recently, we know that caffeine is responsible for most of the antioxidant activity in coffee. But don't worry if you prefer decaf - there are still plenty of health benefits associated with consuming the non-jittery kind! Try mixing things up between coffee, green tea, white tea and black tea for a variety of antioxidants and health benefits from day to day.