Table of Contents
- According to a recent study, drinking coffee with milk may have anti-inflammatory benefits.
- The anti-inflammatory properties of coffee stem from its high polyphenol content, which can be increased by adding protein, such as milk.
- Experts discuss the results of this study and how you can benefit from its anti-inflammatory properties for yourself.
It seems that drinking coffee every day can do more for you than just giving you an energy boost. Many of us find that we’re not ready to face the day until we’ve satisfied our caffeine cravings. According to a recent study, drinking coffee with milk can help reduce inflammation.
Compared to polyphenols alone, the exposed cells were twice as efficient at reducing inflammation because the molecules actually bind together. This means you’ll be giving your body double the support it needs in the fight against inflammation just by adding milk to your daily coffee.
What are polyphenols and what do they have to do with inflammation?
According to Melissa Priest, DCN, RDN, national media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and a member of the Prevention Medical Review Board, polyphenols, which include flavonoids, phenolic acids, lignans, and stilbenes, are a variety of Found in plants. The substance “polyphenols act as antioxidants, helping in the fight against free radicals—volatile molecules—and helping to prevent cellular damage frequently associated with inflammation.”
According to Dallas, Texas-based board-certified internist and rheumatologist Scott Zashin, MD, polyphenols reduce oxidative stress, which commonly leads to inflammation. “In fact, the food industry adds polyphenols to various foods in an effort to increase quality, stop spoilage, or preserve flavor.” They say that because they are antioxidants, the food industry works to preserve the quality of the food they produce. Put differently, polyphenols act as organic preservatives. Perst claims that these include berries, whole grains, spices, nuts, flaxseeds, olives, tea, red wine and some vegetables.
What happens when polyphenols are paired with proteins, such as with coffee and milk?
Dr. According to Zashin, the researchers in this study created a fake inflammation and exposed the cells to inflammation. “When you have an infection, your body produces inflammation using white blood cells to fight the infection.” He adds that the cells in the trial that were treated with both polyphenols and amino acids responded better to reduce inflammation than those treated with polyphenols alone or the placebo group.
Therefore, Dr. According to Zashin, “If you drink coffee (polyphenols) and milk (amino acids), it works to have a more anti-inflammatory effect.”
According to Prest, reducing inflammation in the body reduces the likelihood of tissue and cell damage, reducing the risk of degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
What are some other natural ways to reduce inflammation?
According to Prest, eating a plant-forward diet rich in healthy grains, colorful fruits and vegetables, and more plant-based protein, getting enough rest, exercising, and managing stress can all help reduce inflammation.
New York City-based registered dietitian nutritionist and certified yoga instructor Keri Gans, M.S., R.D.N., C.D.N., According to , reducing sugar intake along with increasing fruit and vegetable intake can help reduce inflammation levels in the body.
The bottom line
Dr. According to Zashin, the main conclusion of this study is that consuming a diet high in polyphenols can have anti-inflammatory effects. “People suffering from inflammatory disorders such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis should follow a Mediterranean diet, which is high in polyphenols,” says the rheumatologist.
Dr. According to Zashin, this new research suggests that if you include foods high in amino acids in your diet, such as milk, salmon, chicken or other lean meats, you may get even more anti-inflammatory benefits.
But as Gans notes, even without protein, these results shouldn’t override the general health benefits of eating foods high in polyphenols. In addition, there is research
Not without its limitations, given that the research was done on cells rather than people. “It should be noted that this study is in-vitro, which is different from research done on humans, and the results should only be considered preliminary.”
Overall, according to Prest, the study results show how important it is to eat a diet rich in polyphenol-rich foods to improve diet quality and overall health.
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