Go on - live a little!

Monday 11th January 2010 2:20pm

coffee Today’s lifestyle means that we have access to a much greater variety of foods than ever before in our history. Unfortunately some of these Have a reputation for being “bad for us” but is this necessarily true?

Three of the most maligned foods in a modern diet are alcohol, chocolate and coffee.

Alcohol

There is evidence to suggest that consuming alcohol increases “good” HDL cholesterol, reduces factors in blood that make it more likely to clot, and may directly affect blood vessels, keeping the linings smooth and pliable and thus less vulnerable to atherosclerosis.

There may even be a connection between alcohol intake and higher blood levels of omega-3 fats.

Moderate intake has even been associated with everything from greater bone density to less risk for Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, as well as protection against heart disease and stroke.

Like most things in life though it can’t all be good news! We need to beware of consuming too much though….more alcohol is not necessarily good for you. Just like your grandmother used to say “All things in moderation” and this applies especially to alcohol.

The dangers of over consumption of alcohol are well known. Drinking too much is dangerous. Triglycerides and blood pressure go up and liver function can be impaired. Binge drinking can lead to stroke, and then there are all of the social ills that come with intoxication.

Moderation is flexibly defined, but the guidelines often cited: for men, one to two drinks a day; for women, just one. So it is possible to “live it up a little” and enjoy a drink or two and not only enjoy the social benefits but a few health benefits as well.

Chocolate

Ever wondered why many diet products and meal replacement drinks are chocolate flavoured? The only piece of non-scientific reasoning is that we must somehow be hard-wired to just love that “choccy” taste. Surely something so tasty can’t be all bad for you, and it turns out that it isn’t!

Chocolate may improve blood flow through arteries that supply the heart and the brain and has been shown to cause the release of mood elevating chemicals by the brain. No wonder it’s always been so popular.

Unfortunately the “good bits” in chocolate may not always be present. It often depends on the quality of the raw ingredients they start with. The most likely explanation for chocolate’s good effects is that cocoa beans contain substances called flavonols (specifically, catechin and epicatechin, which are also found in tea) that stimulate production of nitric oxide, a chemical that relaxes blood vessels. Dark chocolate may have more flavonols than other types, but you can’t go just by darkness to identify that these are present.

Beware - the sugar and fat content of chocolate translates into calories and some of the fat in many chocolates is the unhealthy saturated variety.

Coffee

Coffee has been considered both a perilous pleasure and a true godsend at various times throughout history. Some believed there was a connection between coffee and heart attack, a worry that seemed to derive from coffee’s ability to quicken the pulse some even considered a link to increased cancer risk. Further back in time though the church condoned the drinking of coffee because it allowed monks to stay awake longer which increased the time that they could spend in prayer.

Fortunately the link to cancer has largely been disproven. Furthermore coffee drinkers seem to be less likely to have heart attacks and strokes and develop diabetes than non drinkers. The consumption of coffee has even been linked to a reduced risk of dementia and Parkinson’s disease. It is thought that these benefits derive from the rich mix of anti-ocidants found in the coffee bean.

So what’s the downside then? Pregnant women are still advised to limit, if not avoid, caffeine intake and unfiltered coffee may increase “bad” LDL levels because some harmful substances in the coffee don’t get filtered out.

So that relaxing coffee you share with friends might just be doing good for more than your social life!

Balance is important

As always we advise a healthy balanced diet. The point of this article is that taken in moderation some of those things considered “bad” can be enjoyed.

This information is not intended as a substitute for qualified medical advice. Please consult a properly qualified health care practitioner.