Here’s Your Wake up Call: Just Smell the Coffee

How many of you can’t seem to find your footing in the morning without first inhaling some fresh coffee? Simply staring down into a cup of steaming hot java seems to kick-start your motor, doesn’t it? Well, it turns out that the latter may be closer to the truth and that it’s not even necessary to take a sip to rev up your engine. In fact, all you need do is bask in the aroma.

Coffee, in moderation, can be good for you.* However, recent research indicates that the benefits from the bean may outweigh potential risks associated with caffeine consumption in most people. For instance, studies have shown that coffee is loaded with quinines, a class of antioxidants that seem to increase insulin sensitivity, thereby reducing the risk of developing diabetes type II. Several studies indicate that coffee drinkers have an 80% reduced risk of developing Parkinson’s disease and a 20% less chance of developing colon cancer. Coffee is even helpful for stopping a migraine in its tracks, to help control asthma, and may even help to prevent dental cavities.

While caffeine plays a role in these health-giving perks, it’s not the only compound coffee has going for it. A cup o’ Joe also packs a healthy dose of the antioxidants chlorogenic acid and tocopherols (a form of vitamin E), as well as magnesium. But, what really has the scientific community buzzing right now is the effects of trigonelline, the constituent that lends the dark liquid its bitter taste and unique aroma.

As a group of international researchers have just discovered, breathing in the vapors from a cup of coffee (or just hanging out in the kitchen as the pot brews) triggers activity from at least a dozen genes in your brain, in addition to impacting protein metabolism. That’s pretty big news, especially when you consider that all of that goes on before even raising the coffee cup up to your own mug to drink.

So what does it all mean, you may ask? Well, aside from helping your brain waves speed up in the morning to a level that constituents being awake and alert, the mere smell of coffee also incites a riot of antioxidant action to help protect nerve cells from damage from oxidative stress.

Maybe that’s why we tell people who need to get on the stick to ‘wake up and smell the coffee.’ Hmm.

* For most people, moderate consumption of coffee equates to two to four cups per day, but no more than six cups per day (which sounds like a LOT to me!). The health benefits from coffee appear to decrease after that amount.