Epidemiologist, writer, and the co-founder of the Zoe app, Dr. Tim Spector believes that coffee is possibly one of the healthiest drinks. For years, research has suggested that the drink can extend our lifespans, improve heart health and boost gut health. However, it still has a bad rep, especially in comparison to green tea.
Speaking on a radio show, Dr. Spector said that coffee really is a “health drink.” He said that its health benefits come from the fact that coffee is made using a fermented plant that is full of polyphenols. “If you have three cups, that’s actually about a third of your fibre intake,” Dr. Spector said. “What we thought was a nasty thing that gives you heart flutters... new science is telling us that coffee is actually one of the things that we should be prioritising. We should kick orange juice out of the health range... it’s just sugar like Coca-Cola, whereas coffee is right up there, even above green tea as a health drink.”
He says that doctors “are taught very little about nutrition at medical school or as junior doctors”, adding that he was one of those doctors who used to think that they knew all there was to know about health and nutrition. After conducting his own research, Dr. Spector still believes in universal nutritional goals we should aim for if we want a healthier body and gut.
Red wine
“Wine is a plant… with red wine, it’s all about grape skin,” he explains. Wine is made from grapes; for red wine, the polyphenols of those grapes are still present.
Eat 30 different plants a week
“The first thing to do is try to eat 30 different plants a week.” That means not just relying on eating the same boring kale salad daily but adding different nuts, seeds, herbs and spices to our meals.
Fermented foods
“Eat fermented foods daily – cheese is a fermented food, as is your high-fat yogurt, kombucha and kimchi.”
Try intermittent fasting
While it’s not for everyone, Dr. Spector says that just resting our guts overnight can have benefits. The easiest thing to do is to leave 12 hours between dinner and breakfast. That means, for example, having your last bite at 9 pm and waiting until 9 am to have your breakfast.
