Research conducted on coffee has concluded that is overall healthy, confirming what many have believed since coffee began being consumed.

Coffee has been drunken by people for at for over a thousand years. Coffee was discovered by an Arab in the ninth century in the Ethiopian highlands. The person discovered it when he noticed that his goats became “more lively” after eating berries from the coffea plant. He took the coffea plant back to Arabia (Yemen now) with him where it was distributed throughout the Middle East.
Coffee was first used for religious reasons. Muslims made wine from the pulp of the coffee berries. This beverage was called as qishr (it’s called kisher now ) and it was used as a wine substitute in religious ceremonies. It’s unclear, as to why a wine substitute would be necessary for a religion that condones alcohol altogether, but it can probably traced to an old Muslim legend.

The old Muslim legend alleges that the archangel Gabriel offered a cup of coffee to the prophet Mohamed , who was ill. Coffee not only made him recover but it gave him enough energy to defeat 40 horsemen and sleep with 40 women. Unfortunately, modern doctors have found no evidence whatsoever for coffee’s strength and libido enhancing powers that are presented in this story.

However, since coffee is one of the most studied substances on the planet, numerous studies have illuminated its effects.

In addition to coffee’s known effect on stimulating the central nervous system, coffee also;
*Increases cognitive performance, especially in elderly people.
*Speeds up the breathing process and metabolism,
*Helps relieve some symptom of asthma
*Helps relieve some migraines when used with painkillers and other migraine medication
*helps to remove ‘cholesterol plaque’ –the substance that clogs arteries.
* Contains Vitamins that include calcium, phosphorus, iron and many other substances that are necessary for the human body.
*Coffee prevents dental caries(cavities ). The tannins in coffee interfere with bacteria’s
ability to access sugar for food. The downside to this, is that coffee stains the teeth.

Coffee can be taken during pregnancy in light moderation. There is some concern that it can cause iron deficiency in the infant if the mother drinks too much of it.

Contrary to popular belief, coffee doesn’t raise the blood pressure, even in those with heart disease. Coffee shouldn’t be taken along with tobacco and alcohol because together they can cause higher cholesterol levels in the blood.

If you drink coffee, smoke, drink liquor and don’t exercise, you’re likely to develop heart disease.
Using coffee filters offsets the small increase in body cholesterol caused by coffee by trapping the two substances that cause a slight increase in cholesterol, cafestol and kahweol, from the coffee.

Like with most things, an excessive amount of coffee will be fatal. Experts put that amount at around 100 cups of coffee in a twenty four hour period.