The Hindu Business Line : `Coffee good for health'

CONSUMPTION of coffee in moderate quantity confers certain potential health benefits in respect of several ailments, according to Mr Ernesto Illy, Chairman of promotion committee of the International Coffee Organisation.

Delivering the keynote address at a seminar on Coffee and Health, organised by the Coffee Board, Mr Illy said that recent researches had shown that coffee consumption in moderation was not harmful to human health. In fact, it has been proved to be beneficial in ailments like cirrhosis of liver, cancer, heart disease and Parkinson's disease, Mr Illy said. Besides, it also helps in increasing alertness and mental performance, he added.

The seminar, part of ICO's global campaign, was aimed at creating awareness on the new research findings and the positive benefits of coffee consumption among the medical fraternity.

Mr Abhijit Sengupta, Additional Secretary, Commerce Ministry, said Coffee Board's new initiative in creating awareness on the health benefits was aimed at boosting domestic consumption. The findings of the seminar would help us to take a look at the policy issues, he said.

The Coffee Board Chairperson, Ms Lakshmi Venkatachalam, said a long-term solution to the present crisis was to boost domestic consumption. Production and consumption pattern of coffee was heavily polarised with the developing countries dominating production and the developed nations dominating the consumption. The country was on the threshold of out-of-home coffee consumption revolution with the spread of the cafes and bars, she said.