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 The age-old coffee debate rages on - is it good for health or bad for health? Coffee consumption is on the rise in the United States and over half of Americans drink it every day, according to the National Coffee Association. Here's a good reason to enjoy your morning cup of java: numerous studies have concluded that coffee could help ward off dementia later in life. In the most recent report, Swedish and Danish researchers who studied a group of middle-aged women and men for 21 years concluded that the study participants who reported drinking three to five cups of coffee daily were 65 percent less likely to have developed dementia, compared with those who drank two cups or less.
According to Joe Vinson, Ph.D., a chemistry professor at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania, "Americans get more of their antioxidants from coffee than any other dietary source. Nothing else comes close." Antioxidants are said to have many health and anti-aging benefits. He cautions that just because a food or drink has high antioxidant levels, that may not translate into health benefits, which ultimately depends on how the antioxidants are absorbed and used by the body.
In a French study, women aged 65 or older who drank more than three cups of coffee per day were compared with those who drank one cup or less per day. The ones who drank more caffeine showed less decline in memory tests over a four-year period. The study, published in the journal Neurology, suggests that caffeine may even protect against the development of dementia, however lead researcher Dr. Karen Ritchie of the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research warned against jumping to premature conclusions. "While we have some ideas as to how this works biologically, we need to have a better understanding of how caffeine affects the brain before we can start promoting caffeine intake as a way to reduce cognitive decline," said Dr. Ritchie. "But the results are interesting - caffeine use is already widespread and it has fewer side effects than other treatments for cognitive decline, and it requires a relatively small amount for a beneficial effect," she continued. While more work needs to be done, Dr. Ritchie concluded that caffeine may slow the onset of dementia rather than prevent it.
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Anti-aging and beauty expert Jackie Silver, founder of AgingBackwards.com, shares her secrets, tips and shortcuts for looking and feeling young. In her blog, she will give tips, tricks and secret weapons for stopping the effects of aging and improving the whole self - mind, body and spirit. Aging Backwards was born from her desire to help people look and feel the best they can. She is "the one" her friends go to for anti-aging information because she is driven to stop the clock. Aging Backwards is not a magic cream or product that will suddenly transform you. It's a way of life that has worked for her and will work for you. Some of the tips are common sense and some will be surprising, but the real key is to take what will work for you and make it part of your lifestyle. Sign up for Jackie's FREE newsletter here! 
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