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We know one man who has real expertise in this question – an ultra expert with more than ten years of experience – Alexey Nagibin.

To gain insight into this issue, we turned to a real expert in the specialty coffee market. Trained as a wine sommelier, as well, as a real ‘Robert Parker’ of the specialty coffee world, the author of the systematized method for evaluating coffee and the creator of his own training programs for baristas, Coffee Specialty Education Trust, founder the Coffee Collective brew bar – Alexey Nagibin!

This is a very good question because a lot has been said and studied about the benefits of wine, but coffee is still often classified as a harmful drink, which is primarily associated with low level of knowledge about its properties.

The most dangerous thing that scares people off in coffee is caffeine itself, though in many drinks, take tea, for example, its contents is a way more, but it does not have such a reputation. I have already been asked this question in lectures and I studied it in more detail, so let’s sort it all out at last! As a subject for comparison, let’s take a good biodynamic red wine, say, from Austria, and specialty coffee from Kenya.

What do we know about the benefits of coffee from scientific evidence?

There are certain studies that include information that those people who consume a moderate amount of alcohol are less likely to suffer from cardiovascular diseases and may even have a longer life expectancy. We don’t know with absolute certainty, however, whether this is explained by the consumption of wine, seems more likely to be geographical peculiarities. Scientists have discovered that the substances contained in red wine can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and strengthen the walls of arteries. Scientists from University of Iowa published that daily consumption of red wine, in particular, helps to improve mental activity, but, at the same time,
alcohol can trigger cardiovascular diseases, increase in blood pressure, which will lead to an increase in weight and in fat levels in blood and bad cholesterol.
One shouldn’t forget the fact that alcohol, wine included, allows to relax and reduces stress level. The fact speaks for itself: doctors directly assure that for people with diabetes no amount of alcohol is safe.
Excessive consumption of any alcohol accounts for the following health problems: damage done to liver cells, the possibility of oncological diseases: throat cancer, laryngeal or esophageal cancer, pancreatitis, psychological problems. What’s more, some people should not drink alcohol at all. Take pregnant women, for example.
We know for sure that resveratrol is a useful substance, but its content in wine is so little that it is dangerous for your health if you drink alcohol in the hope of filling your body with this antioxidant.
There are even special recommendations for alcohol consumption for adults in America: up to 2 and no more drinks per day for men and 1 for women, that is, we are talking about equivalent to 50-75 ml of red wine. And all the doctors say that less consumption of alcohol or its complete elimination is definitely better for the body than its consumption.
As for coffee, the considered harm must be from caffeine, which is can be really dangerous for humans, but to get a dangerous dose you need to drink approximately 40-50 cups of high quality arabica coffee in less than a couple of hours. It is unlikely that someone will manage to do it (you should not even try to carry out such an experiment). What is that good we know about the effect of coffee on humans? Consuming 2-3 cups of coffee per day may reduce the risk of heart failure (Study ‘Circulation: Health Failure’ published by the American Heart Association, 2021). Also, studies have revealed the most beneficial effect of coffee on the liver and a positive effect for those with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.

We also know that coffee interferes with the absorption of calcium and washes it out because has a diuretic effect, so it is prohibited for pregnant women with weak bones, as well as for those who have a hyperactive fetus, as coffee stimulates the central nervous system.
So, drinking water is important both when drinking coffee and drinking wine, as alcohol dehydrates. Drink a glass of water for every glass of coffee you drink to replenish water balance. It seems that wine has been defeated, but I still would not say that it all has only one side. One shouldn’t go from one extreme to the other, it is also important to think about the tastes of these drinks for a man.

Despite the fact that coffee objectively turns out to be a very good drink, which has the benefits of all trending movements: it’s healthy, gluten-free, lactose-free, alcohol-free, and vegan, and this is one of the reasons for growth of its popularity and the reasons why I like it very much because I can indulge myself in smacking the tastes in the morning, while driving and even in the evening. I put forward a life perspective from the point of view of hedonism, and if we exclude all the above, then even a glass of good wine combined with gastronomy is, first of all, incredibly delicious and a cup of specialty coffee with an almond croissant or a brownie can raise the level of serotonin and give real happiness!
If you are healthy and do not have any addictions, you can allow yourself both drinks, the key point is to stick to the principles of conscious consumption and select a high-quality product.
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There are many benefits to being part of a Crohn’s disease support group. You can get information, emotional support, and help with surgical treatments. In addition, you can even meet other patients with the same condition.

Information

Many support groups are available to help people living with Crohn’s disease. They may provide emotional support, information, and social opportunities. A crohn’s disease support group near me is a great place to find friends with the same condition.

There are numerous organizations and online groups to choose from. Find one that is right for you. Many nonprofit organizations are dedicated to educating patients and allowing them to meet other people with the disease. Some of the best online IBD support communities are those affiliated with professional medical organizations. These sites offer news, information about digestive disorders, and recent health innovations. In addition, many nonprofit organizations can be an excellent resource for people with Crohn’s. These organizations have volunteer opportunities, social gatherings, and chances to meet other people with the disease.

Several nonprofit organizations also offer an online support group.

Symptoms of Crohn’s disease

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes the tissues of the gastrointestinal tract to swell and become inflamed. It affects the small intestine and the large intestine and can cause complications. The symptoms of Crohn’s disease include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and cramping. Inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract can be anywhere along the bowel, but most people with the condition develop it at the beginning or end of the small intestine. In addition to the inflammation, the infection may also affect the bowel. This can lead to fistulas, which are a type of bowel blockage. Surgery can help remove these obstructions. Crohn’s can also cause mouth sores, which are ulcers that appear along the tongue or lower lip. They may appear as red, painful patches or as small tears. Taking a balanced diet and using mouthwash can help prevent them. Crohn’s disease can also cause bleeding. Anemia and low iron levels can result. Blood tests can be performed to determine the cause of these conditions. People with the disease can also develop a stoma, an opening through the feces. These fistulas can be a source of infection, so they must be treated. A surgical procedure can remove the stoma and widen the stricture. Getting treatment early is essential. Symptoms of Crohn’s disease can be life-threatening if left untreated.

Surgical treatments for Crohn’s disease

Crohn’s disease is a digestive disorder that causes inflammation of the intestines. It affects people of all ages. However, it most commonly affects teenagers and young adults. The symptoms of Crohn’s can be very severe and include pain, bloody stools, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Surgical treatments for Crohn’s may be necessary for some patients. These treatments are designed to help ease the pain and inflammation associated with the disease. They can also prevent complications. Surgical treatment for Crohn’s typically involves removing a portion of the intestine. This can relieve some of the symptoms of the disease, but it does not cure it. In addition to surgery, medications are often used to treat Crohn’s. These medications work by reducing inflammation in the intestine. This reduces the symptoms of the disease and allows the body to heal itself. Surgery is often used for patients who have severe symptoms. For example, if the patient has an abscess, a surgeon might need to remove some of the diseased portions of the intestine. Surgical procedures are also necessary for patients who have fistulas. Depending on the patient’s disease severity, a doctor may recommend medications or alternative therapies. Some of the more common drugs are immunomodulators and biological agents. Biologic agents interrupt the signals between the immune system and the gastrointestinal tract.

Emotional support

Crohn’s disease is a gastrointestinal ailment that causes digestive tract inflammation. It affects people of all ages. Numerous treatments are available to help manage the symptoms, including surgery to remove part of the colon. For some patients, having a support group is a way to get emotional support. This could be an online forum or a group of friends. A study examining the efficacy of peer support interventions found that it had a small to medium effect on both short- and long-term outcomes. Peer specialist programs aimed at supporting individuals with IBD included one-on-one emotional counseling, tailored educational materials, and a variety of other resources. One of the aims of this review was to evaluate the efficacy of peer support interventions for IBD about the other commonly used magic bullets’. The other shots were education and clinical trials. A search for systematic review of the literature on these topics was conducted. In the end, the authors identified 5013 titles and abstracts. Of those, 75 were then selected for review. Only two studies focused on Crohn’s disease. However, researchers also identified peer support for other chronic conditions as relevant to IBD. Other sources of support include online groups for people with IBD, therapists, and employee assistance programs. While the efficacy of peer support interventions for other chronic illnesses was demonstrated, there is little evidence of their effectiveness for IBD.

What is the Meatrix, and are you stuck in it? Author Stuart Waldner explains why eating a plant based diet is eye opening and will change your life forever. Not only will your health improve, and the planet improve, but you’ll feel like you’ve taken the red pill and never look back.

Q. What’s one thing readers should know before they start reading your book? 

A. First and foremost, Escape the Meatrix is not a book of blame and shame, it’s an opportunity to discover the truth about our world. It’s a book of hope, empowerment, and invitation, which is why I wanted the cover to have a hand offering the reader a red pill. I hope readers will keep an open mind, understand the science, and remain curious while reading my book.

Q. Why do you think your book will convince others to stop eating meat?

A. Knowledge is power. I may be naïve, but in my heart, I believe most people are good and would prefer not to contribute to climate change and needless suffering for themselves, their loved ones, or animals. I show the science that proves how eating animal-based foods contributes immensely to climate change and environmental degradation. It explains how we’ll be healthier if we ditch animal-based foods. In fact, in 2016 Oxford University determined that by the year 2050, 8.1 million human lives would be saved each year if everyone adopted a plant-based lifestyle, and that food-related greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced by 70%! Once a person learns the truth, I think they’ll make different and better choices in the grocery aisle.

Q. If you could give your book to one celebrity, who would it be and why?

A. Keanu Reeves because he played Neo in the Matrix film franchise and he’s an avid animal lover.

Q. Can you tell us three fun facts about you?

A. I learned to juggle on a nude beach in Hawai’i. I’ve travelled to every continent except Antarctica. I make up songs and sing them to my dogs.

Q. What’s one secret about you that you’ll share with the world? 

A. I’m a recovering perfectionist.

Q What makes your book unputdownable? 

A. The timeliness of my book. Our earth is experiencing a 5-alarm fire from problems that range from climate change, emerging infectious diseases, mass extinction rates, biodiversity loss, environmental degradation, our declining health, to the horrible return on investment of animal agriculture. The signs are all around us. Reading that might make you feel a bit overwhelmed. But the great thing I discovered while researching this book is the all the above and more are connected to the food on our plates and choices we make in the grocery aisle.

At its core my book is about how one small change, a plant-based lifestyle, can make a huge difference. When we look at our world, it’s easy to become cynical and lose hope that things can ever change. But my book is about hope and empowerment. Escaping the Meatrix brings very real and positive change. Climate change is here, now! All the Meatrix cares about is its bottom line and it exerts extreme influence over our government to maintain the status-quo. I think it’s foolish of us to believe things are going to change on a systemic level any time soon. But there is no need for us, as individuals, to wait. There’s something that nearly every one of us can do, right now, today, that can make a huge difference and that’s to escape the Meatrix and eat plants!

Q What is the most useless talent you have? 

A. I can curl my tongue.

Q. What’s the most interesting thing you’ve read or seen this week?

A. I’m currently reading An Immense World, by Ed Yong. I find the diversity of life on our planet and how different species have evolved to survive utterly fascinating. I hope we humans, as a species, can rapidly evolve past our addiction to animal-based foods, while the earth can still sustain us!

Q. What’s your biggest pet peeve?

A. People talking loudly on their cell phone in public spaces.

Rapid Fire Questions and Answers

Q. Impossible Burger or tofu?

A. Both

Q. Wine or Beer?

A. Neither

Q. Pasta or salad?

A. Pasta

Q. Movie Night in or Movie Theater?

A. Movie night in.

Q. Football or Baseball?

A. Neither

Q. Beach or Camping?

A. Beach for sure!

Grab your copy on Amazon now. Intrested in more climate-change books, check out this interview with EA Smiroldo.

Medicare doesn’t provide vision insurance coverage for eye exams or other eye-related procedures with a few exceptions for what is deemed medically necessary. For example, patients that have glaucoma, diabetes, or macular degeneration may have some procedures covered.

Medicare Part B covers exams for people with diabetes to test for diabetic retinopathy once a year. Only certain doctors are legally permitted to administer this exam from state to state. After the deductible is met for Part B, the patient is responsible for 20% of the approved amount.

Conventional routine eye exams cannot detect diabetic retinopathy. Dilated eye exams performed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist properly licensed to give the exam can detect it and allow for the doctor’s diagnosis. Severe diabetic retinopathy, which requires invasive treatment, can only be performed by an ophthalmologist. Treatments may include injections, eye surgery, or laser therapy.

Glaucoma testing is available for specific groups under Medicare Part B. The tests are provided every 12 months for those deemed high risk.

According to Medicare, these patients are at higher risk of glaucoma:

• Hispanic men and women 65 and older.

• African American men and women 50 and older.

• Patients with a family member with glaucoma.

• Patients who have diabetes.

After the deductible is met for Part B, the patient is responsible for 20% of the approved amount for glaucoma testing.

Macular degeneration treatments and tests may be covered under Medicare Part B. Medicare may cover injected drug treatment and certain diagnostics if the patient has age-related macular degeneration. As with the other exceptions for vision care, Macular degeneration also carries a 20% responsibility for the approved amount after meeting the deductible.

Because prices for treatments and diagnostics fluctuate in different states and by different doctors, Medicare recommends that patients talk to their healthcare providers about costs. Factors that can impact price variance include:

• Where the patient gets the testing or service.

• The type of facility, doctor’s office, hospital, etc.

• If the patient’s doctor accepts the assignment.

• How much the doctor charges.

• Other insurance carried by the patient and what that covers.

Cataract surgery may also be covered by Medicare Part B. It can help cover the costs for corrective lenses required after the implantation of intraocular lenses. This can include glasses if lenses are not preferred.

Parts of Medicare and Approved Eye Exams and Procedures

Part A, considered hospital insurance, does not cover contact lenses, glasses, or routine exams. It can cover vision care for medically necessary procedures. This can include injuries or vision problems that require being hospitalized.

Part B, which is considered medical insurance, as mentioned, doesn’t cover eye examinations, save for a few exceptions. High-risk patients and those with glaucoma have 80% of some services covered. Medically necessary procedures related to cataract surgery may also be covered.

What is often referred to as Part C, Medicare Advantage, is a way to receive add-on benefits. This service can cover some of what Medicare does not in terms of dental, vision, and hearing.

Additional coverage from other providers often covers eye exams, glasses, and corrective lenses. Medigap, which is Medicare supplemental insurance, is a way to cover costs not covered by Original Medicare.

Vision providers that accept Medicare can be located on the Medicare.gov website. The database is accessible under the find care providers link.

Medicare Advantage plans are typically the way to go when looking for general vision care coverage. Several trusted institutions offer these programs, including UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross BlueShield (Anthem,) Aetna, and Humana. Each plan has different coverages and costs. Medicare Advantage plans can be found on Medicare.gov with just a zip code.

One area in which Medicare does offer the most benefits is the services of ophthalmologists. These doctors are specialists in eye disease treatment and in surgical and medical concerns of the eyes. While Medicare will not pay for a routine exam, medical and surgical cases can be covered by an ophthalmologist. Prior authorizations and referrals may be required. It’s suggested to check with the Medicare.gov site or speak with a representative to determine what is covered.

Medicare does not cover eye exams. According to Medicare—and most other insurance companies—eye exams are not considered a necessary part of the health care routine for people 65 years or older. This means that if you’re 65 or over and need an eye exam, you will have to pay for it out of your pocket. Some might argue that this is unfair, given that age can significantly contribute to vision loss, and there are some exceptions.

However, Medicare is not the only source of health care coverage in the country. Vision services may still be covered if qualified for gap insurance like Medicare Advantage. So, if whether your eye exam will be covered under your current health care plan is a concern, speak with your doctor or insurance company to see if it’s a covered service.