A daily consumption of coffee may lower the risk of diseases, such
as: diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, Parkinson disease and some forms
of cancer, a nutritionist, Nike Oshinowo, has said.
Oshinowo, who
works with the Gbadaga General Hospital, Lagos, made this assertion on
Friday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Ibadan.
According
to her, a daily intake of black coffee helps to meet with the
recommended daily dietary antioxidants required by the body.
Oshinowo stated: “Coffee is rich in antioxidants and gives up to 60 per cent of the recommended daily dietary antioxidants.
“It enhances mental alertness and the ability to concentrate due to its caffeine content.
“Taking coffee in moderate consumption of not more than four cups in a day is really of immense benefits to human health.
“To really enjoy the health benefits of coffee, it is best taken
black; by adding sugar, milk or any other thing; those things can take
all the health benefits away from it.”
The expert said that while coffee was not a drug, it could, however, lead to an abuse with side effects.
She
further cautioned: “If you want to enjoy the benefits, don’t take it on
impulse like a student, who wants to stay awake to read at night for an
examination.
“Also, some people can be very sensitive to its
caffeine content, therefore, it is advisable to watch out how it affects
your body.
“For instance, if your heart rate or blood pressure goes up, you may want to limit how much coffee you take.”
