Whether it’s 8:00 am and you need a morning jolt, or 3:00 pm and the afternoon slump kicks in, we all have a favorite snack or beverage that is the perfect pick-me-up. Unfortunately, decades-old studies warned us away from some of our favorite caffeinated pick-me-ups because of the belief that caffeine contributed to premature contractions or an early beating of the heart.
Thankfully, a recent University of California San Francisco (UCSF) study, that was published in the January 2016 issue of the Journal of the American Heart Association, researched chronic consumption of caffeine over a 12-month period. The study found that, contrary to popular belief, regular caffeine consumption does not lead to extra heartbeats. Gregory Marcus, MD, MAS, senior author, UCSF Health cardiologist, and director of clinical research in the UCSF Division of Cardiology said, “Clinical recommendations advising against the regular consumption of caffeinated products to prevent disturbances of the heart’s cardiac rhythm should be reconsidered, as we may unnecessarily be discouraging consumption of items like chocolate, coffee, and tea that might actually have cardiovascular benefits.”
And the crowd goes wild! Coffee, tea, and chocolate lovers of Los Angeles rejoice!
Since caffeine consumption does not have a negative impact on the heart, and in honor of a month dedicated to love, let’s explore the health benefits associated with coffee, tea, and chocolate; three treats that we do LOVE.
Coffee
- Potentially protects against type 2 diabetes (Harvard School of Public Health)
- Potentially reduces the risk of Parkinson’s disease and slows shaking in existing cases (Research Institute of the McGill University Healthy Centre)
- Lowers the risk of liver cancer by about 40% (Milan’s Institute di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri)
- Can lower the incidence of cirrhosis of the liver in alcohol drinkers by about 22% (Kaiser Permanente)
- Can protect against heart failure (Harvard School of Public Health)
Tea 
According to Time.com, certain teas can:
- Boost exercise endurance
- Reduce the risk of heart attack
- Protect against a “boatload” of cancers including breast, colon, skin, lung, stomach, liver, ovarian and prostate cancer
- Improve bone mineral density
Chocolate
According to Huffingtonpost.com, chocolate can:
- Reduce stroke risk
- Lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease
- Improve skin—dark chocolate has antioxidants that can offer protection from UV damage
- Improve blood flow
- Boost your mood
There are a lot of benefits to offering coffee/tea and vending services at your office including increased employee engagement and productivity, and improved employee happiness. Now you may want to add improved employee health or decreased sick time to the list.
To find out how you can start a hot beverage or vending service at your Los Angeles location today, call First Class Vending at 800-515-8363. One of our team specialists will be happy to help you create a program that fits your company’s needs and that correlates with your company’s health and wellness programs.