Papaya - a world class meat tenderizer, natural digestive aid, prevents ulcers, and also a soft contact lense cleaner.Healing with Coffee
Caffeine, the stimulant in coffee (and cocoa, tea, mate, and cola drinks) is also an ingredient in many cold, flu, sleep-prevention, and menstrual remedies-uses that are direct outgrowths of its role in traditional herbal healing.
Coffee’s caffeine content depends on how it’s prepared. A cup of instant contains about 65 milligrams. Drip or percolated coffee has 100 to 150 milligrams. A cup of espresso contains about 350 milligrams.
Caffeine is such an integral part of our culture, we seldom realize how much of a drug it is. The fact is, caffeine is classically addictive. Regular users develop a tolerance and require more to obtain the expected effect. Deprived of caffeine, regular users usually develop withdrawal symptoms, primarily headache.
The media regularly report health problems linked to coffee, but they never discuss its many possible healing benefits.
Pick-Me-Up - No doubt about it: Coffee is a powerful central nervous system stimulant. For those who drive long distances, it helps prevent dozing at the wheel. And it counteracts the sedative effects of antihistamines, which is one reason it’s included in many cold remedies. It does not, however, help people sober up after overindulging in alcohol.
Increased Stamina - Attention, athletes: Coffee may improve physical stamina, according to a report in The Physician and Sports medicine. The International Olympic Committee forbids the use of more than seven cups within 3 hours before Olympic events.
Asthma - A few studies show coffee helps prevent asthma attacks. The caffeine opens the bronchial passages in the lungs, thus supporting one of the herb’s traditional uses.
Weight Loss - Coffee may help some people lose weight.
It may boost the number of calories you burn per hour-your metabolic rate-by about 4 percent. In people with weight problems, that translates to a significant increase in calorie’ burned after a meal, according to one study.
Jet Lag - Jet lag is the disorientation, insomnia, and fatigue that develop after flying across time zones. Coffee may help shift the body’s natural time cycle (circadian rhythm) after abrupt time-zone changes Some jet-lag authorities recommend drinking coffee in the morning when traveling west and in the late afternoon when traveling east.
Rx for Coffee
Coffee has a wonderful, pleasantly bitter taste. Americans have more than proven that that’s sufficient incentive to drink it regularly You might also enjoy coffee as a pick-me-up for its stimulating effects, to possibly help increase stamina, prevent asthma attacks and jet lag, or with meals as a possible weight-loss aid.
For an infusion (otherwise known as a cup of java), use I heaping tablespoon of ground beans per cup of water. Brew it using your favorite method-or buy instant and follow directions on the label. Drink up to 3 cups a day.
Coffee-flavored food items (yogurt, ice cream, etc) also contain caffeine If you use them, adjust your coffee consumption downward.
Coffee should not be given to children under age 2. For aider children and people over 65, start with low-strength brews and increase strength if necessary.