Coffee....... good for you? Well, I've heard recently, that it actually is good for you. I just read an article, among many, on the website, AARP.org, that was a real eye opener. I was elated to read it, because it validates the fact that my coffee drinking habit is okay. But, what is it good for? We'll get to that later.

Let me tell you about my coffee habit, and how it began. It reminds me of the movie..........The Days of Wine and Roses, with Lee Remick and Jack Lemmon. I'll tell you why in a moment. I met my husband when I was 16 years old, and he was 19. When he would come to visit me, he would always ask for a cup of coffee or two, no matter what time it was. And it was usually evening, he said that it never prevented him from sleeping. He would encourage me to have a cup with him, but I never liked "the stuff." That late night habit eventially proved to be a source his later insomnia.

Remembering the movie, can you see it unfolding now? Well, as time went on, the coffee started to smell kinda good, so, I would taste a little, every once in a while. Now remember, he used to visit me at night, so that kept me up late, and the next morning I was no good for anything. Thus began my reliance on coffee. Remember, Lee Remick didn't like alcohol, and Jack Lemmon drank all the time. See the connection. Well anyway, I started drinking coffee on the regular, and I've been drinking it ever since. To real coffee drinkers, pardon me, I have to have mine with cream and sugar, fake creamer, but real sugar. I digress. I attempted to quit, a few times, but I always went right back, now I'm glad that I did. Well, the end of the movie is......Jack Lemmon beat his addiction, but Lee Remick just couldn't. She said that the world was just too dark, (words to that effect), without the alcohol. Well my story is not that dramatic, however, my ex-husband has completely broken his coffee addition. Like Lee Remick. I, on the other hand cannot break my addiction to caffeine, (the world is just too dark without it), okay, okay, it's not that serious, LOL. But, anyway, with the news that's just coming out, who needs to break free. As a matter of fact , I might even increase my cups, by at least one, now take that Jack Lemmon, and You know who.

From what I see, coffee has a virtual treasure trove of healing and preventative properties. Get this, "regular coffee consumption," could, possibly, reduce the risks of things such as suicide, mood disorders, certain types of cancers, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, cavities, Parkinson's, and much more. These things are all new to me, not that I've ever done research, but I read a lot, and some of these things I've never read.

I have always used coffee for headaches, a pick me up, a diuretic, and an appetite suppressant. About 10 or more years ago I found out about coffee's effects on asthma. Two cups of black coffee is used, in some cases, as an emergency treatment for an asthma attack. I used that with one of my children, it worked, I didn't even have to take him to the doctor after that. Of course, my son didn't have a very serious case of asthma. To be sure I am not recommending this to parents of children  with asthma, or even adults with asthma, I'm just saying that I read, and tried it myself.

I read that, coffee is also thought to lower the risk of stroke, and endometrial cancer. It also seems to aid in pain relief after exercise. Something else that I just read in Woman's World magazine, concerning weight loss, to increase metabolism, drink a cup about half hour before breakfast. The jury is still out on that one for me, but I am trying it. Just call me Mikey, I'll try anything.

Other statements that encouraged me about coffee, is that, with it's numerous antioxidants, it helps reduce inflammation, and protects the inner lining of blood vessels, also being rich in magnesium, it is important in heart health. Speaking of heart health, another statement that I read somewhere, is that, women who drank more than six cups of coffee a day were found to have a 17 percent lower risk of dying from heart disease, cancer, and other illnesses compared with those who drank less than one cup a day. I'm sure that statement will reassure some that are really heavy consumers. That being said, I'm not drinking that much, I'm going to stick with my two to three cups a day.

I know there are more health facts associated with coffee consumption, but I don't like research, I just read. Suffice it to say, the bad rap that coffee has been saddled with all these years is beginning to be lifted. I, for one,am very glad about that, although it didn't take all of this research to convince me, but it is reassuring, and helps to bolster me in my defense of my coffee drinking habit.

One of the places that I found some of this information, is in AARP Bulletin today at AARP.org, under the article entitled: The Coffee Brew-haha, dated May 22, 2009. I highly recommend reading this article, because, it has so much more detailed information. I also read other articles on the Internet. So if you are so inclined, you can go to the Internet for further research.

So coffee drinkers unite, we now have good ammunition to add to our arsenal of defense for our coffee drinking habit. HEALTHY! HEALTHY! HEALTHY!