A group of researchers from the University of Copenhagen says it has stumbled across new evidence that Coffee with milk can be healthful. Anti-oxidants (coffee’s polyphenols) plus amino acids (milk proteins) make good things happen…
Coffee with Milk: Looks good! And good for you, too…
What they did
The researchers wanted to know what happened when well-known anti-oxidants were consumed in company with common foods many folks eat daily. They had noticed that the food processing industry adds polyphenol anti-oxidants to foods to slow the oxidation and deterioration of food quality, and thereby avoid off flavors and rancidity.
They already knew that polyphenols were safe for human consumption, and help reduce oxidative stress in the body that gives rise to inflammation. Since ‘stress’ and ‘inflammation’ are two of the most powerful trigger words in medical science these days. So, the researchers wanted to know more about how that system works: specifically, how known anti-oxidants such as polyphenols react with commonly consumed foods.
They also wanted to extend their knowledge to determining how antioxidants work with amino acids, the ubiquitous building blocks of proteins. That’s all part of a bigger picture that includes side effects such as aggravating or reducing inflammation.
What they found
“In the study, we show that, as a polyphenol reacts with an amino acid, its inhibitory effect on inflammation in immune cells is enhanced. As such, it is clearly imaginable that this cocktail could also have a beneficial effect on inflammation,” says Professor Marianne Nissen Lund, who headed the study. “We will now investigate further, initially in animals. After that, we hope to receive research funding which will allow us to study the effect in humans.”
Nissen Lund spends a lot of time exploring mind experiments – or ideas for them. She says she’s particularly interested to see what happens when coffee – which contains loads of polyphenols – is mixed with milk – which contains loads of proteins consisting of easily available amino acids.
The takeaway
A program checking out just how powerful certain protein-polyphenol combinations may be in producing anti-inflammatory effects in the body.
Inflammation caused by stress and unhealthy eating is a scourge of developed Western society today, ultimately costing worldwide healthcare systems (US)$ billions. Researchers like Nissen Lund consider unravelling the mystery of how anti-oxidants and amino acids react with one another a sort of Holy Grail of their area of specialty.
My take
I’m certain this isn’t the last we’ve heard of this issue!
~ Maggie J.