Whether you are pouring a cup of coffee in your travel mug to chug on the way to work or gulping some black coffee first thing in the morning before your cardio workout class, it is hard to go a day without coffee. The caffeine in coffee refuels you, making you feel like you can accomplish anything you set your mind and heart to.
Despite what people believed back in the day, today’s research has shown that coffee is good for you. In fact, you have no idea how much your favorite morning beverage is helping you. This is because coffee is loaded with substances that can protect you from many conditions, especially heart disease and Alzheimer’s.
You might only be chugging your coffee so you can open your eyes enough to get through the day, but did you know that coffee is rich in antioxidants? Other active substances in coffee help lower internal inflammation in the body. Based on research from the John Hopkins University School of Medicine, coffee helps protect against illnesses.
Coffee contains caffeine which is a natural stimulant that helps one feel energetic. However, that is not the only benefit of coffee. It helps the brain become more assertive by improving mental function, mood, memory, and reaction time. According to a study, coffee also helps boost performance and endurance during exercise.
There are more than a thousand botanical compounds present in coffee. Moreover, it is rich in potassium, riboflavin, B vitamins, and antioxidants.
Here are some of the benefits of coffee:
People who consume an average of two to five cups of coffee per day are less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who have no coffee at all. Harvard Medical School found that this is because coffee is loaded with ingredients that help lower the blood sugar levels in one’s body.
We aren’t sure which ingredients are responsible for this, but according to our research, it is because of the antioxidants present in coffee.
It is no coincidence that a big cup of coffee early in the morning can brighten your day and make you smile. This is mainly because coffee increases the production of dopamine in your brain.
A study proves that women who drink more than three but less than six cups of coffee a day are 20 percent less likely to experience depression. Similarly, people who drink coffee daily are half as likely to commit suicide.
Everyone knows how painful gallstones are. However, a study in Italy concluded that individuals who drink wine or coffee or eat whole wheat bread or fish are less likely to deal with gallstones during their lifetime.
However, keep in mind that sufficient research has not been conducted to link a decreased likelihood of gallstones with coffee.
Drinking two or more cups of coffee daily can protect one against heart failure. It was found that individuals who consumed three to four cups of hot coffee had an 11 percent lower risk of getting heart disease.
Drinking a moderate amount of coffee and green tea helps lower the risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease. Surprisingly, this is truer for women than for men.
Studies have proved that the caffeine in coffee can help individuals with Parkinson’s disease. Daily consumption of coffee in moderation can help lower their uncontrollable movements.
Moreover, individuals who do not have Parkinson’s have a lower risk of developing the condition. However, these benefits of coffee may be more applicable to men than women.
Regular consumption of coffee has been linked to a healthier liver. However, to reap the benefits of a better liver, you need to pay attention to the kind of coffee you drink regularly.
For example, filtered coffee has been found to be hepatoprotective. This is because it stops substances like cafestol and kahweol from finding their way into your mug. These substances can increase the liver enzymes in your body.
On the other hand, too much espresso is not good for you as it contains sucrose. This ingredient can increase the chances of fatty liver disease.
Drinking coffee every day has been linked to a 50 percent decrease in the likelihood of developing liver cancer. According to these studies, coffee lowers your risk of liver cancer, particularly for males. This is because coffee helps control the genes that cause inflammation in the body, particularly the liver.
Studies have also linked the consumption of coffee with lower risks of colon, rectal, and breast cancers.
There is a wealth of reasons why coffee is good for you, but that does not mean that you should replace coffee with water and consume unhealthy amounts of it every day. Unfiltered coffee is not good for you as it can increase cholesterol levels in the body. Moreover, if your body is sensitive to caffeine, you might face some side effects like nausea, headaches, and anxiety after consuming coffee.
Based on research by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, women can drink up to five cups of coffee that contain a total of 400 milligrams of caffeine each day. Usually, an 8-ounce cup of coffee contains 95 milligrams of caffeine.
However, breastfeeding and pregnant women should not consume too much caffeine. Everyone has a different caffeine tolerance, so if your body cannot handle caffeine, it is best to stick to decaf or avoid it altogether.
Overall, coffee makes for a great addition to any diet. However, you must remember that what you add to your coffee also determines its healthiness. Most people end up adding sugary syrups, cream, sugar, and too much milk to their beverage, causing it to become unhealthy and fattening. So, keep your coffee simple and intake limited, and you’re good to go!