This Food for Thought webinar delves into the captivating world of coffee, exploring its multifaceted nature, from the trade dynamics between Arabica and Robusta to the intricate flavors shaped by various growing conditions. Discovering the surprising richness of coffee composition, including its myriad bioactive compounds, and gain insights into the meticulous journey of the coffee bean from cherry to cup.

The discussion also touches upon coffee’s intriguing history, from being classified as a potential carcinogen to its current recognition for potential health benefits. Caffeine, a central player in the coffee experience, is examined for both its bitter profile and its array of health-promoting properties. Overall, the webinar paints a vivid picture of the cultural, historical, and scientific tapestry that encompasses the world’s favorite brew.

Coffee, a ubiquitous part of many people’s lives, has a rich and complex story to tell. Beyond its stimulating effects, it harbors a world of flavors, processes, and health considerations. Let’s embark on a journey through the intricate layers of the coffee universe.

1. The Trade Game: Arabica vs. Robusta
   • With over 100 coffee plant species, the global trade primarily revolves around just two: Arabica and Robusta, each contributing distinct flavors and characteristics.
   • Leading the charge in the coffee trade is none other than Brazil, with its rich coffee-growing heritage making it the top player in the international market.
2. The Flavor Chronicles: Growing Conditions and Taste
   • The taste of coffee is influenced by various factors such as soil quality, sunlight exposure, and cultivation methods, each contributing to the nuanced flavors that tantalize our taste buds.
3. Delving into the Coffee Composition
   • Coffee isn’t just about caffeine; it boasts a rich profile comprising lipids, vitamins, minerals, and even a surprising element – fiber, albeit in trace amounts.
   • With over a thousand studied and identified compounds, coffee houses a treasure trove of bioactives with intriguing names such as quinine, tafistal, chlorogenic acids, and trigel melanoids, all contributing to its health-boosting properties.
4. The Coffee Journey: From Cherry to Cup
   • Starting as a humble coffee cherry, the transformation of coffee involves a meticulous process, from harvesting to roasting, bringing forth the beloved roasted beans that fill our cups.
5. Coffee’s Checkered History: From Carcinogen to Beneficial Brew
   • Once classified as a potential carcinogen, coffee’s status has evolved over the years, with recent studies highlighting its potential role in reducing the risk of certain cancers, shedding light on its more positive health aspects.
6. Unraveling Caffeine’s Story
   • Beyond providing the characteristic bitterness, caffeine offers a spectrum of health benefits, including protection for cell membranes, anti-cancer properties, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, it demands caution, particularly for specific groups such as pregnant women and children.
7. The Coffee Symphony: A Blend of Cultures and Centuries
   • With every sip, we partake in a journey that transcends borders, cultures, and time, uniting communities and igniting conversations, all over a single cup of coffee.

From the lands where the coffee plants thrive to the intricate processes that unveil their rich flavors, coffee serves as not just a beverage but a testament to human ingenuity and the wonders of the natural world. So the next time you savor your cup of coffee, remember the tapestry of stories that make each sip a delightful experience, steeped in history and brimming with flavors.

Three tips to help create a more manageable and meaningful Thanksgiving celebration fostering an environment of support and gratitude.

1. Prioritize Self-Care: Make self-care a top priority in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. Ensure you get enough rest, eat nourishing meals, and engage in gentle exercises that promote well-being. Listening to your body and taking breaks when needed can help conserve energy for the Thanksgiving festivities.
2. Plan Ahead: Consider planning the Thanksgiving celebration well in advance. Coordinate with friends and family to delegate tasks and responsibilities, allowing you to conserve your energy and focus on enjoying the day. Prepare a simplified menu, or consider a potluck-style gathering to share the load and foster a sense of togetherness.
3. Embrace Gratitude: Take time to reflect on the blessings in your life, no matter how challenging the circumstances may seem. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude by keeping a journal or sharing moments of thankfulness with loved ones. Embracing gratitude can uplift the spirit and bring a sense of peace and joy, fostering a meaningful Thanksgiving experience despite the hardships.

To learn more about navigating the holidays, join us for our food for thought nutrition webinar on Dec, 6th. Register here:
https://www.believebig.org/food-for-thought-nutrition-webinar/

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Alcohol can be a touchy subject for folks, even more so than sugar for some.  Check in with yourself on how this topic resonates for you – how difficult is it to think about reducing or eliminating alcohol for the benefit of your health right now?  Hopefully, it’s not a difficult choice but I want to honor and make space for the fact that it can be for some.  If you feel like this topic hits a nerve for you, consider listening to the Chris Beat Cancer podcast interview with Annie Grace back in Jan 2020. It’s a raw & very honest conversation about alcohol and the role it plays in your life.

So what’s all the fuss about alcohol and cancer risk?  Let’s unpack this topic by

• Statistics/facts about alcohol & disease
• understanding how the body processes alcohol
• Understanding alcohol’s effects on the body
• Looking at how alcohol causes cancer
• How alcohol depletes essential nutrients & impairs absorption of others
• How alcohol damages the microbiome — Alcohol & Gut inflammation 2017

It has been estimated that approximately 2 billion people worldwide drink alcohol on a daily basis, with more than 70 million people having a diagnosed alcohol use disorder (World Health Organization 2004). GI Microbiome 2015

Alcohol damages nearly every organ in the human body and is responsible for causing more than 60 different diseases.  Alcohol consumption is responsible for 5% of all death annually, but of those, 13% are due to cancer.  For obvious reasons, alcohol is causally linked to cancers of the digestive tract — all the way from mouth to rectum — as well as liver cancer and breast cancer in women.

The risk of these cancers is increased even in people who have only one alcoholic drink per day. (Essay – Lazaro).

Light alcohol drinking (up to one drink per day) increases the risk of cancer of the oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus and breast, but not of the liver, larynx, colon and rectum.

Click here to listen to our latest webinar where we cover all the information above.