Organic Coffee: the Superior Bean
When shopping for the right coffee, there are many things to consider. Light roast or dark roast? Flavored beans or regular beans?
What about organic versus non-organic. Does it really make a difference?
There are several benefits to choosing an organic coffee versus a non-organic coffee, but FIRST, it is important to understand the benefits of coffee.
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Coffee is More than a Stimulant
Coffee is mostly consumed for its ability to stimulate the brain. Reducing tiredness, improving cognitive function, and increasing motivation. It’s not just the caffeine that is fueling you. What most people do not know is coffee is a fruit that is packed full of antioxidants.
Antioxidants are bioactive compounds found in plants that can neutralize and remove harmful free radicals in the body.
Free radicals are unstable atoms that can harm cells and they are ubiquitous. The continuous exposure to free radicals and harm to cells leads to aging and chronic illnesses, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, heart disease, and more.
Not to be underestimated, the antioxidants in coffee are a powerful resource, shown to reduce Alzheimer’s disease by 64% and reduce Parkinson’s disease by 30%.
There are three active compounds in coffee that could explain how this beverage can improve health and prevent disease.
All this in one little coffee bean, but what happens when these good beans turn bad?
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When Good Coffee Goes Bad
Coffee is filled with amazing antioxidants that may prevent several illnesses and ailments, but all of its benefits can be diminished through harmful farming and processing practices. Consuming healthy foods and drinks may be counterproductive if they contain harmful toxins found in pesticides, herbicides, and other fertilizing agents commonly used in traditional coffee agriculture.
Check out 3 Common Chemicals Used in Coffee Bean Farming:
These are just three of many in a long list of chemicals that are used in traditional coffee bean farms. They represent the free radicals that our bodies are continuously fighting off.
SO YES, Coffee contains powerful antioxidants, but drinking it with a dose of free radical-causing chemicals reduces its quality. Therefore, to get the maximum benefits from your daily cup of coffee it is best to find a certified organic coffee brand.
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Why Organic is Better
Organic means a better coffee bean with less potential for insecticide and pesticide exposure.
Organic foods are produced through farming practices that only use natural substances. This means avoiding all artificial chemicals, hormones, antibiotics, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
This not only puts a better cup of coffee in the hands of the consumers but also protects the farmland, the farmers who work it, and the surrounding communities.
When pesticides and insecticides are sprayed on the coffee bean trees or shrubs, the chemicals can saturate the coffee cherry while also leaking into the surrounding dirt and water sources.
Supporting organic farmers not only improves the health of the coffee buyer, but also the health of the community growing and handling the coffee beans. Since coffee is mostly grown in third-world countries, the bean passes through many different hands before it lands in your cup.
The USDA organic certification protects the coffee bean, not just during it's farming, but throughout the entire coffee-making process.
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The Life Cycle of a Coffee Bean
In order to receive the USDA organic certification, each step in the process is regularly inspected and must meet strict requirements that eliminate/limit harmful practices.
Choosing organic certifies you are getting the healthiest bean possible to provide you with the best health benefits.
So, Why go organic?
Healthier farms, healthier land, healthier people, healthier coffee, healthier you.
Now that's smart.
DRINK SMART. THINK SMART.
Resources:
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Wierzejska R. (2017). Can coffee consumption lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease? A literature review. Archives of medical science : AMS, 13(3), 507–514. https://doi.org/10.5114/aoms.2016.63599
Socała, K., Szopa, A., Serefko, A., Poleszak, E., & Wlaź, P. (2020). Neuroprotective Effects of Coffee Bioactive Compounds: A Review. International journal of molecular sciences, 22(1), 107. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22010107
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McEnvoy, M. (2019). Organic 101: What the USDA organic label means. U.S. Department of Agriculture. Organic 101: What the USDA Organic Label Means | USDA