Greek coffee: always in our hearts!

It would not be an exaggeration if we characterized Greek coffee as "the coffee of our heart". And this not only because it has been our favorite daily habit for decades, but mainly because, as shown by scientific data, this habit benefits our health - and more specifically the health of our hearts! Greek coffee: the hidden longevity "weapon" of the Ikarians A few years ago, the results of the now-famous "Ikaria study" were published, which caused great interest in the scientific community and in particular in the field of cardiovascular research. So, according to the findings, the elderly Ikarians (aged 69-81 years) who used to drink daily Greek coffee - and in fact in a quantity greater than 450 ml/day - presented better endothelial function. As you may know, in recent years Ikaria has become famous worldwide, since it is included in the so-called "Blue Zones", the regions of the planet where the inhabitants hold the "longevity record". , one of the secrets of longevity of the Ikarians is the consumption of Greek coffee! What is the beneficial effect of Greek coffee? Greek coffee is a drink with a high content of substances with antioxidant activity. More specifically, it is rich in polyphenols, such as chlorogenic acid, which contribute to the defense of our cardiovascular system and the improvement of overall health. All the secrets for a perfect cup of Greek coffee! You may think that the preparation method of Greek coffee is easy and simple, behind its taste and the form of its cream, however, there are hidden precious secrets! To be sure that you have success in your pocket, just follow the steps below: In a clean and dry teapot with a narrow neck, add as many cups of water (preferably lukewarm) as there are coffees you want to prepare. Add a full teaspoon of coffee for each cup you have calculated and as much sugar as you desire. Place the pot over medium-high heat so that the entire pot is heated and stir slowly until the coffee and sugar dissolve. (The secret: After this point you must not stir the coffee again!). Once the coffee starts to bubble, serve it slowly after a few seconds. So prepare a cup of Greek coffee and enjoy it... to your heart's content!

The health benefits of Greek coffee

"Shall we go for a coffee and talk?" It's a phrase that I'm sure you've suggested several times to friends, family, colleagues, in order to meet. The modern way of life has changed our habits quite a bit, but not our appetite for a Greek coffee. Did you know that in addition to a favorite habit, it also offers us antioxidants? What are antioxidants? Antioxidants are compounds found in foods, usually fruits and vegetables, that bind to free radicals and fight them. What do they help us with? Studies have linked the protection of antioxidants against chronic diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular, as well as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. And Greek coffee contains antioxidants! In addition to caffeine, coffee also contains antioxidant compounds, such as diterpenes and chlorogenic acids. Both belong to the category of polyphenols, compounds characterized as antioxidants. The moderate caffeine content (40-50mg) in Greek coffee combined with its high concentration of antioxidants is what makes it special compared to other types of coffee. Consider that by consuming 1 cup of Greek coffee, which is about 75 ml, we get 117 mg of polyphenols. A study carried out in Norway even emphasized that the antioxidants in coffee have greater bioavailability, that is, they can be used by the body better than those found in fruits and vegetables. In addition, a recent study published in a well-known scientific journal ranks coffee better than other beverages known to contain a high concentration of antioxidants. Greek coffee & longevity. Let's not forget the recent study carried out on the island of longevity, Ikaria, in order to see the benefits we get from drinking our Greek coffee. 6 out of 10 participants, in addition to following a Mediterranean-type diet with physical activity, had a moderate to high daily consumption of Greek coffee. This habit seemed to give them a greater benefit in the functioning of their vessels, which is a key indicator for heart health. Additionally, in the same study it was shown that people who had high blood pressure, drinking Greek coffee was associated with better endothelial health and artery elasticity. Fruits and vegetables may indeed be known for their antioxidants, but as we have seen, Greek coffee also has its grace! Enjoy it at any time of your day and even better, together with your loved ones.

Research on French coffee

If you brew your "French" coffee in the carafe with the plunger filter, you may be causing serious damage to your body in the long run, according to scientific research. "Unfiltered coffee contains substances that increase blood cholesterol," explains the study's lead author, Dag Thelle, a senior professor in the department of public health and community medicine at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. "Using a filter removes them and reduces the long-term chance of heart attack and premature death." Greek coffee is not filtered and this can raise cholesterol. French style coffee is of course not the only form of unfiltered coffee. There is also our familiar Greek coffee (also known as Turkish coffee), which is prepared with boiling water and coffee powder. But the solution never passes through a filter before reaching the cup. All these types of unfiltered coffee 'contain higher amounts of cafestol and kahweol. "These are chemicals that are found in oil droplets that float in the coffee but are also present in the sediment that forms in the cup," said Dr. Lisa Drayer. "Studies have shown that these substances can increase levels of triglycerides and LDL cholesterol (aka 'bad' cholesterol). So try to filter your coffee, like through a paper filter like with French coffee, since the paper filter can help trap these chemicals.” How was it done and what did the research show? For the study, published in The European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, researchers set out to investigate whether or not a particular method of coffee preparation was associated with a higher risk of premature death, heart disease and stroke. In total, more than 500,000 Norwegian adults aged 20-79 took part in the study, which spanned two decades. During that time period, about 12,000 participants died of heart disease, 6,000 died of ischemic heart disease, and nearly 3,000 died of stroke. Ultimately, the researchers concluded that participants who drank their coffee filtered had a 15% lower chance of premature death. People who drank one to four cups of filtered coffee daily had the lowest death rates overall, even than people who drank no coffee at all. "The finding that those who drank their coffee filtered did slightly better than those who did not drink any coffee at all could not be explained by any other variable, such as age, gender or lifestyle habits," Professor Thelle noted. "So we believe this observation is true." Meanwhile, those who drank their coffee unfiltered were not so lucky. The study's findings about unfiltered coffee are consistent with what many health experts have been arguing for years about moderate coffee consumption and its subsequent health effects.