Hidden Treasures of the Coffee Cherry

A brief history of coffee and recent super-nutrient discoveries

Although it is not known for certain, the probability exists that the coffee tree first grew in Kaffa whose modern name is Ethiopia. Together with estimates of when and how coffee was discovered as the brew we know today, it is believed that the people indigenous to the area first chewed the whole fruit as part of their regular daily fare. Imagine the buzz they may have had plus the hefty nutritional dose.

In the seclusion of monastery gardens, it is believed that the first organized cultivation was established circa A.D. 1000. Eventually this knowledge was carried beyond the monastery walls to the outside world where coffee drinking quickly became part of the social activities of the Arab world. As coffee grew in popularity its value as a commodity grew also, eventually becoming one of the major commodities traded today on the futures markets around the world .Originally, in spite of attempts by the Arabs to keep the valued tree within their own borders, Dutch ingenuity and business acumen overcame this obstacle. Amsterdam became the trading center to supply coffee to Europe . The year 1645 saw the first coffee house established in Venice, with the financial institution Lloyd's of London beginning life in a coffee house in 1688. Coffee made its way from Europe to Virginia, and in the next three centuries coffee drinking became firmly entrenched in social fabric of countries worldwide.

Recent Discoveries of Nutrition within the Coffee Fruit.

When we associate a color with our cuppa joe and the coffee bean, we think different shades of brown. Well, it's time to move over Joe Brown, there's a new Champion on the nutrition scene. This contender for the nutritional trophy is dresssed in bright fire-engine red, and you'd never guess that the traditional coffee bean is hiding inside. One of the ironies of this whole coffee business is that for years this powerhouse was not only ignored but actually thrown away. The problem was that this outer fruit of the coffee bean spoiled so quickly, there was no way to process it into a saleable product.

That has all changed.

Why antioxidants are necessary.

The human body is basically an engine fueled by carbon and oxygen. When they combine, the result is oxidization, which is another name for rust. It's just like garden tools left out in the rain that quickly show the effects of the most vigorously active element on earth, i.e. oxygen, combining with the base element iron. When this rusting process takes place in the body, the resulting "ash" is Free Radicals. Due to their destructive nature they attack various cells causing all kinds of mischief such as arterial inflammation, aging, the list is lengthy. Antioxidants have the unique ability to cancel out the effects of free radical activity. For a more in-depth discussion, see: http://www.healthchecksystems.com/antioxid.htm.

Anna Harding, Oregon State U. "Coffee can be good for you, experts say"

Improved understanding through scientific research of the coffee tree together with its whole fruit has led to the discovery of an absolute treasure trove of nutrition, being loaded with such essentials as antioxidants and powerhouse nutrients known as phenolic acids that are polyphenolic in nature. Some of these nutrients are:

Ferulic Acid [C₁₀H₁₀O₄] http://www.delano.com/Articles/Ferulic-acid-unusual.html

As a strong anti-oxidant, ferulic acid is effective in neutralizing free radicals which are commonly known to be toxic. Another benefit is directed toward alleviating the effect of stress. There has also been a major discovery regarding the human digestive process, during which essential mono-saccarides are released much to the benefit to our immune systems.

Chlorogenic Acid [C₁₆H₁₈O₉] http://www.itmonline.org/arts/chlorogenic.htm

Research has revealed that this nutrient has the very beneficial effect of lowering the sugar spikes that occur in the bloodstream right after eating. This is of particular interest to diabetics.

Trigonelline [C₇H₇NO₂] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trigonelline

This is an alkaloid , a sustance that naturally occurs in plants. Usually very bitter in taste, but derivatives are widely used in pharmacological applications.

Quinic acid, [C₇H₁₂O₆] http://www.answers.com/topic/quinic-acid?cat=technology

Like many fruits the coffee cherry nutrients are acidic and concentrated throughout the entire fruit structure. The coffee cherry has a modest, unassuming taste that blends in with other flavors and is available in powder form. For availability, see this website:

http://www.coffeeberry.org/whatis.htm