Drink Coffee that is Rich In CGA\'s.

Make Sure Your Coffee is Rich In CGA – Studies show that coffee drinkers have fewer diagnoses of diabetes, cancer, obesity, heart disease, stroke, depression, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. And in a recent 16-year study of coffee drinkers, those that drank more than three cups a day were less likely to die (12% for men and 7% for women) from any cause.
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Coffee presumably does this because it contains over 1000 biologically active compounds, but perhaps the most interesting among those active compounds is a polyphenol named chlorogenic acid, or CGA. While scads of plant chemicals are anti-inflammatory or anti-oxidative, CGA seems to be particularly adept in those areas. The trouble is, CGA content varies enormously among coffee varieties, roasts, and grinds.
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Here’s how to make sure you’re getting the right stuff, as determined by Bob Arnot, MD:
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• The coffee beans with the highest CGA are grown at high altitudes and near the equator. Opt for Kenyan, Ethiopian, or Columbian.
• The commercial coffees with the highest CGA content that you can buy from the grocery store are Dunkin’ Donuts Original Blend and McCafe Premium Roast Decaf, medium roast.
• Artisanal coffees, though, generally have 50% more CGA than those you can find at the grocery store.
• Caffeinated versions generally have about 25% more CGA than decaffeinated.
• Flavored blends don’t usually have a high CGA content because they typically use low-quality, low CGA beans.
• Light and medium roast coffees preserve CGA, while dark roasts destroy them.
• Use fresh ground coffee beans when possible. Pre-ground versions are usually short on CGA.
• Very fine grinds are the most healthful, but also the most bitter. Medium grinds have an acceptable amount of CGA.