Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, and it can be prepared in a variety of ways. It basically is a brewed drink prepared from coffee beans that are roasted, the seeds of berries from certain coffea species. The coffea is flowering plant native to tropical and southern Africa and tropical Asia, as previously noted. Here Rachael Link, MS, RD, HealthLine.com, reflects on coffee beans:

“While most people are familiar with coffee beans, coffee fruit is not as common.

Derived from the same plant as the coffee bean, coffee fruit is traditionally discarded during the coffee-making process.

However, it has recently reemerged in the world of health and wellness, and it’s touted as a trendy new superfood that’s featured in supplements, juices, and herbal teas alike.

This article reviews the nutrition and health benefits of coffee fruit, along with common ways to add it to your diet.

The fruit

Coffee fruit is a type of stone fruit that’s produced by the coffee plant.

It’s often referred to by other names, including coffee cherry or coffee berry.

The fruit is typically small and green, turning a deep red or purple shade as it ripens. The coffee bean is housed inside of the fruit and technically classified as a seed.

During coffee production, the coffee beans are extracted, while the fruit is typically discarded.

However, because of emerging research on its potential health effects, coffee fruit is now gaining traction as a popular supplement and beverage ingredient.

Benefits

Coffee fruit may be associated with several health benefits.

High in antioxidants

Coffee fruit is loaded with beneficial antioxidants and polyphenols.

Antioxidants help neutralize harmful compounds called free radicals, which can otherwise contribute to cell damage and chronic disease over time (1Trusted Source).

In particular, the fruit is high in antioxidant compounds like rutin and chlorogenic, protocatechuic, and gallic acids (2Trusted Source).

One small study in 20 athletes found that taking 800 mg of coffee fruit extract per day for 4 weeks improved antioxidant status (3Trusted Source).

Similarly, older test-tube and animal studies have shown that the extract could improve immune function and slow the growth of cancer cells, possibly due to its high antioxidant content (4Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source).

Note that further studies are needed to examine how the antioxidants in coffee fruit may affect human health.”

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