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Dear Fellow ALPHA,
You may have noticed the bold addition to our product line-up -RAM ADVANTAGE Coffee. To some this was a no brainier, the obvious next step for our company. To others, it was a head scratcher.
Coffee?! I expected a protein powder or creatine…but coffee?
This is to be expected because even though 83% of American’s admit they drink coffee, many are still unaware of just how incredibly awesome coffee is. Let me share with you 4 key factors that guided our decision to start micro-roasting our own coffee.
1. Coffee & Brain Functioning
Researchers recently discovered that coffee, but not decaffeinated coffee or even caffeine by itself, increases cognitive functioning. It seems that the caffeine in coffee interacts with other aspects of the coffee bean which helps increase plasma levels of a protein like substance called granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF).
G-CSF is important for brain functioning because it is thought to help facilitate a process called neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is how the brain builds new pathways. Our brain builds new pathways as more and more neurons fire simultaneously. The more neurons that fire together ultimately become “wired” together. This new "wiring" creates a stronger, faster and more intricate network throughout the brain and is how learning occurs.
The process of increasing neuroplasticity is what has lead researchers to believe a cup of coffee, through stimulating G-CSF, can help improve brain functioning. Plus, as we will discuss later, coffee contains an antioxidant which helps improve multiple aspects of health as well as improving memory and retention.
As researchers have started to understand the connection between coffee and brain functioning, it's providing a scientific backing to all those pots of coffee I drank while in graduate school.
2. Coffee & Physical Performance
From the start of my fitness journey, I would have a cup of coffee before hitting the gym. Besides being delicious, it has been one of my favorite “pre-workout” rituals for over 20 years. I am not alone in understanding the benefits of this caffeine-laden drink. Researchers have been touting the benefits caffeine can have on athletic performance for years.
To people in the athletic community, this isn’t much of a surprise. Frequently people slam a pre-workout before lifting. However, an interesting aspect was just discovered, researchers found drinking coffee before a workout provided the same ergogenic benefits as caffeine alone. Researchers found athletes who ingest coffee 60 minutes before training could train longer, harder and with more intensity than those without.
Another reason coffee may be a benefit before an intense training session is its ability to reduce pain. Coffee has been shown to be able to delay the onset of muscle pain during exercise. Many athletes take NSAIDs (Non Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs) before training. It's widely known that chronic NSAID use can have unwanted health effects.
It's just a thought, and you should always consult your physician before making a health or diet change, but in the future coffee might prove to provide the same relief without the unwanted side-effects.
3. Coffee & Antioxidants
Coffee is rich in many antioxidants however one of the most prevalent and least talked about is chlorogenic acid (CGA). Researchers found when participants consumed coffee made from pure arabica beans, as used in the Founder’s Blend, they had increased memory, better cognition and increased reaction times. It was concluded that this was due to the high concentration of CGA found in pure arabica coffee.
In addition, CGA has been linked to helping regulate fat and glucose metabolism. CGA may also help protect the liver due to its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties.
4. Coffee & Health
There are a plethora of health benefits associated with coffee. According to the Archives of Internal Medicine coffee may reduce your chances of developing Type 2 diabetes by 22%. It has been shown that substances found in coffee may support healthy glucose management.
In one of the more impressive studies, researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) found women who drink 4 cups or more of coffee had a 20% lower risk for depression. This is a powerful finding because according to the Mayo Clinic women are two times more likely to be diagnosed with depression than men.
The number one killer in America is heart disease. Heart disease is a devastating condition, which according to the CDC kills 630,000 people a year or 1 out of every 4 deaths in America. The Journal of the American Heart Association recently published a cross-sectional analysis of data. They found people who regularly drink 3 cups of coffee a day have a decreased chance of developing plaque within their arteries!
According to the research presented above, coffee may provide some amazing brain, performance and health benefits. As with anything, always check with your health care professional before starting a new exercise program or dietary plan.
In conclusion, it should be fairly clear why our executive team decided to add coffee to our line-up. We did it with one goal in mind –support individuals who are focused on living the best life possible. We figured a premium, micro-roasted coffee was the obvious next step in our line-up and the next product for your cupboard!
Until next time,
Attack your life with passion.... and a cup of Bold Roast coffee!
Brandon DiNovi
Co-Founder & CEO RAM ADVANTAGE
