The Benefits of Drinking Coffee
Coffee has so many health benefits. And we’re not telling you this just to make you drink coffee even more—it’s scientifically proven.
Coffee is known to have antioxidant agents and other nutritional benefits that can improve your health. Here are 10 proven health benefits which drinking coffee can give you:
- Coffee improves energy levels
And it can also make you smarter. The reason why many people drink coffee is because it increases energy levels. Coffee contains caffeine, which is a psychoactive substance commonly consumed. Caffeine is absorbed into the bloodstream after it has been drunk, and then it travels to the brain, where Adenosine, an inhibitory neurotransmitter, is blocked by the caffeine and other neutrons are enhanced. Drinking coffee improves the body’s vigilance, energy levels, cognitive function, and reaction times.
- Coffee helps burn fat
Yes, you read right. Caffeine is one of the few organic and natural substances that have been proven to assist in fat burning. Caffeine has been proven to raise the metabolic rate 3%-11%. However, this isn’t a long term effect, as it has been shown that long-term coffee drinkers tend to not enjoy this benefit.
- Coffee can improve physical performance
Drinking coffee stimulates the nervous system, as caffeine causes the body to send signals to the brain to release adrenaline levels in the blood. This makes our bodies pumped up and ready for any physical exertion. Caffeine breaks down body fat and releases it into the bloodstream as fatty acids. Fatty acids are used as fuel during physical exertion. So, it definitely makes sense to have a strong cup of coffee at least 30 minutes before exercising or working out.
- Coffee has essential nutrients
Coffee beans pack a powerful punch, where nutrients are concerned. Apart from antioxidants, coffee also has vitamin B2, vitamin B5, potassium, manganese, magnesium, and niacin.
- Coffee lowers the risk of having Type II diabetes
Diabetes affects about 300 million people worldwide. The elevated blood sugars results in insulin resistance. Coffee drinkers have shown to have a reduced risk of developing type II diabetes. Studies have shown that the reduction is as high as 65%, with at least 7% reduced risk per day from drinking coffee.
- Coffee prevents early onset Alzheimer’s and dementia
Although there is no known cure for Alzheimer’s, studies have shown that drinking coffee reduces the risk of getting Alzheimer’s by at least 65%. Alzheimer’s and dementia usually affect people over 65 years old and above. Apart from eating healthfully and exercising, drinking coffee helps as well.
- Coffee also reduces the risk of Parkinson’s
Apart from Alzheimer’s disease, coffee can significantly reduce the risk of getting Parkinson’s, which is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. A person gets Parkinson’s due to the decrease of dopamine-generating neurons. Coffee drinkers have been shown to develop a lower risk of Parkinson’s, with a risk reduction of between 32 to 60%.
- Coffee keeps the liver healthy
The liver carries out plenty of important functions in the body. Some of the common diseases that affect the liver are hepatitis and fatty liver. A condition called cirrhosis can happen once the liver has been replaced predominantly by scar tissue. Drinking coffee, however, decreases the chances of getting cirrhosis. People who drink at least four cups of coffee per day have been shown to have a significantly lower risk of contracting cirrhosis by 80%.
- Coffee helps fight depression
Drinking coffee has been known to elevate moods, thus making you happier. A Harvard study conducted in 2011 showed that people who drank more than 4 cups of coffee per day were less likely to become depressed. This reduction was at least 22%. Another study also showed that coffee lowered a person’s desire to commit suicide.
- Coffee lowers the risk of developing certain types of cancer
Cancer is a serious disease, and a leading cause of death all around the world. Cancer happens when there is an uncontrolled growth of cells, along with the inability of the white blood cells to destroy these abnormal cells. Drinking coffee, however, has been shown to protect the body against two main cancers, which are cancer of the liver and colorectal cancer. Coffee lowers the risk to at least 40% for liver cancer and 15% for colorectal cancer.
Bottom line is: Coffee is one of the healthiest beverages in the world. Acquiring a good bag of coffee beans and giving it a good grind will give you superior quality coffee to prevent and protect against any of these diseases.
1 Comment
Before actually reading into this blog I knew a couple of the key points; coffee improves energy levels, burns fat, has antioxidants and vitamins, and health risks. I didn’t know more in detail, so I found this blog informational. I had only heard about coffee having health benefits, I never realized until now that it can reduce and prevent some serious health disorders. Alzheimer’s, dementia, depression, Parkinson’s, and cancer are disorders that have some proven evidence that coffee is beneficial. It’s interesting to learn more and more about what I am putting into my body and how it can affect my health.