Kelly the Culinarian: Food news: Coffee is good for ladies, cheap wine is bad for the environment

Monday, August 6, 2007

Food news: Coffee is good for ladies, cheap wine is bad for the environment

There's some interesting food news that came out today. First, drinking three cups of coffee per day appears to decrease age-related memory loss. It appears as though it's the caffeine that has this effect, as tea had the same effect, but men didn't enjoy this benefit. There's speculation that the caffeine blocks proteins that cause memory decline, but researchers don't offer up reasoning as to why only women get the memory boost.

But think about what effect all that coffee would have on the rest of you. Because it's a diuretic, you're more likely to get dehydrated and will have to go to the bathroom all the time. Also, it erodes your enamel and presents unnecessary calories. Caffeine can give you the shakes too -- not cool at all.

Another interesting article is about how wine with screw tops or plastic corks could lead to the decline and destruction of cork trees. As long as there's a demand for cork, there will be farmers who tend to these trees. It takes 40 years before a cork tree produces a harvest suitable for wine corks and there are plenty of other, more profitable crops.

I don't really care what stops my wine from pouring out. I personally like synthetic corks simply because I feel like the wine lasts a little longer and it eliminates the possibility that a bad cork could ruin good wine. However, with all the issues we have with global warming and such, do we really need to wipe another plant off the face of the earth?

So remove your stopper of choice and sip your beverages over these media meals.

12 comments:

Unknown said...

Better memory good! Shakes baa. . . what was I saying?

I remember hearing something about running out of cork trees as to one reason for screw caps and synthetic corks. I guess there are always two sides.

I am also partial ti the synthetic corks. You still get the cork opening experience and none of the disappointment a corked bottle brings.

FH said...

Great info Kelly! I do like Tea better than coffee but will have a cup each in a day! No wonder I forget to take photos while cooking for my posts sometimes!:D

People St.Clair said...

hmm who knew. thanks for the info.

A Mature Student said...

Kelly, I was sent this email by a friend who is a health fanatic.

He tells me that it is so only if one drinks ground coffee and not instant.

I don't drink wine, so I am pretty safe huh? :)

Marianne said...

I enjoy both coffee and wine in some quantity so this info is good to have!

Oh for the love of food! said...

hey, Kelly, this is an interesting post, I never knew that coffee could improve memory degeneration in women, unfortunately I only drink a cup each day! I also enjoyed reading your post on the silicone bakeware, I have 2 heart shaped cupcake trays, and they do work very well!

Cynthia said...

Man, I get so tired sometimes of the conflicting info that is why my motto is everything in moderation. Thanks for the news Kelly.

Dawg said...

Hmmm. My elderly Mom drinks at LEAST 3 glasses of wine a day. I hypothesize that drinking copious quantities of alcohol has the reverse effect than drinking coffee. She's lost 5 of my house keys.

Ahem.

Dawg said...

Also, the RSS feed for your blog is not updating my Google Reader... maybe I need to try and resubscribe?

tigerfish said...

I wonder if Trader Joes 2-buck chuck is considered cheap wine? :p

I do drink coffee, once per day. Is that too little ?

stay-at-home mum said...

Hmmm, this is interesting. I dont drink coffee or tea but I do drink wine occasionally. My beverage of choice is ...ta da....milk!

Dwiana P said...

Thanks for sharing. Have you ever tried Coffee Luwak from Indonesia? I am not a coffee drinker but surely my husband loves it. I know you blog from someone blog:)