I mentioned last week that I ran across a great article from Reader’s Digest magazine. EAT FOR A BETTER MEMORY – 7 WAYS TO GET SHARP. A great article from a great magazine!  Today’s food is… COFFEE! YAY! From Reader’s Digest:

Sip some coffee for triple benefit. 

Coffee has been shown to improve memory, reasoning and reaction time in older folks.

Good news for lifetime coffee drinkers: Long term consumption’s

been linked to a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Finally a good reason to have a cup of coffee in the morning! I am excited about grabbing my morning cup of coffee and sitting with the newspaper. It’s my favorite time of day. It’s my meditation time…

After doing a little research on coffee and Alzheimers it appears that YES, the coffee has to be caffeinated, and for some of us that simply isn’t possible, but if you are one of the people that can drink regular coffee by all means!  An article I read from http://www.alzheimerspreventiondigest.com had this to say:

Your morning cup of coffee may protect you from a variety of diseases, from Alzheimer’s to diabetes to Parkinson’s. Several studies have suggested that regular consumption of caffeine reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

But there is a catch, it seems. A cup or two are not enough to produce the optimum benefits, according to Dr. Gary Arendash, a leading Alzheimer’s researcher who has been studying the effects of caffeine on the brain. He says 500 milligrams of caffeine – equal to five cups of coffee – seems to be the amount necessary to produce a protective effect. According to Arendash, “I drink five to six cups a day religiously.”

Read the full article HERE – a few tips from that article:

COFFEE DRINKING TIPS

• Drink it black. You’ll get more health benefits from coffee if you skip the additives. Okay, I know some of you can’t imagine anything other than a Grande caramel macchiato, but just try it plain!
• Drink it early. Most folks find drinking coffee later in the day can keep them up at night. Find your “cut off point” and skip the coffee after that time to avoid insomnia.
• Drink it fresh. To maximize the flavor and prevent oxidation and loss of nutrients, coffee is best when fresh-ground.
• Drink it in moderation. Sure, the experts say you’ll get the most benefits from 5 or so cups a day, but listen to your body. You may need to keep your coffee consumption at a lower level to feel your best. Coffee may cause digestive problems, jitters or insomnia in certain people, so cut back if you have any side effects. Doctors also recommend that if you’re pregnant or being treated for some medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, it’s best to avoid or restrict caffeine.

Don’t forget that tea also contains caffeine (A cup of black tea has about half as much caffeine as a cup of coffee and a cup of green tea has about a quarter as much) and other beneficial compounds, and is less likely to produce side effects.

OK, last week was BLUEBERRIES, hope you are getting your fill! Today is COFFEE, wonder what it will be next week? Catch you back here tomorrow!