Trigonelline Gives Coffee its Antioxidant Boost and Aroma

Published on: September 6, 2006

During the last century, more than 19,000 studies have been conducted on the health implications of drinking coffee, particularly because it contains the stimulant caffeine. In the most recent study, conducted at Vanderbilt University's Institute for Coffee Studies, the conclusion is that "coffee is far more healthful than it is harmful," said Tomas DePaulis, Ph.D., a research scientist at the Institute. His conclusions are the result of an 18-year study involving 126,000 people with similar studies conducted in France and Denmark.

One key to the efficacy of coffee as "good guy" versus bad is the antioxidant, trigonelline, which gives coffee its particular fragrance and its slightly bitter taste.

Antioxidants - those elements that fend off unstable free-radical oxygen molecules - are crucial in fending off a variety of diseases and coffee is among the top ten foods with the highest concentrations of antioxidants like trigonelline. The nine others in the "Top Ten" are blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, cranberries and strawberries; walnuts and pecans; artichokes, and ground cloves. Ironically, it is not the berries that are the biggest source of antioxidants for Americans - it's the coffee, according to a news release from the American Chemical Society. The reason? We drink a lot of it!

Because of its antioxidants and other healthful elements, coffee has been shown to reduce Parkinson's disease by 80%, reduce the risk of colon cancer by 25%, reduce cirrhosis of the liver by 80% and reduce the risk of gallstones 50%. These figures are based on those people in the study who drank two or more cups a day, and some researchers believe that the more you drink the lower your risk for liver cancer. Decaf coffee gets the healthful nod for reducing rectal cancer.

"Good guy" trigonelline has even greater benefits than as a disease fighting antioxidant - it has anti-bacterial properties, which fight infection and anti-adhesive qualities that help resist cavities in our teeth.

So, next time you drink a fresh cup of coffee, remember that its fabulous aroma is thanks to trigonelle, and its healthful benefits are due to a whole host of powerful antioxidants that are beneficial to your health.

FEATURED RECIPE: Savory Stuffed Oranges

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