As we all probably know, coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world. We drink it daily and rely on it for so many things, but coffee is not just a delicious beverage that we crave constantly, it also serves us tons of health benefits. In this article, I will be going over some of the major health benefits of coffee.
Coffee increases energy and stimulates the brain.
One of the major reasons we all drink coffee is for energy. That jolt of alertness that wakes us up after a long night of work or a night of partying. We’ve all been there. Coffee always saves the day. 1
The main component that is responsible for this is caffeine. Caffeine is one of the most consumed psychoactive stimulants in the world. 2
After drinking a cup of coffee, caffeine gets absorbed into your bloodstream and rushes to your brain. When it gets to your brain, it blocks an inhibitory neurotransmitter known as adenosine. When this occurs, it activates noradrenaline neurons and releases dopamine. This improves our mood, memory, energy levels and many other things. 3
Coffee improves your physical performance.
When caffeine enters the system, it stimulates the nervous system and increases the adrenaline in your blood. The system then signals fat cells to break down body fat, producing free fatty acids for fuel consumption. This results in an improvement in physical performance by 11-12% 4
Coffee helps you burn fat.
Studies show that caffeine boosts metabolic rates by 3-11% and increases fat burning by 29% in lean individuals and 10% in obese individuals. 5 6
Coffee lowers the risk of Type-2 Diabetes.
As you probably heard, Type-2 Diabetes is a worldwide health problem that affects millions of people. Many studies have proven that people that drink coffee have 23-50% reduced chance of getting Type-2 Diabetes. 7 8 9 10 11
While data fluctuates from study to study, they’ve all proven to show that coffee reduces the risks.
Coffee protects you from Alzheimer’s Disease.
Alzheimer’s Disease is a neurodegenerative disease that slowly destroys memory and the ability to think. This disease is common in people over the age of 65. There is no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but studies have been shown that people that drink coffee are at low risk of 65% 12 13
Coffee protects you from Parkinson’s Disease.
Parkinson’s Disease is a condition that affects the nervous system and brain. This disease is caused by the loss of nerve cells in the substantia nigra, a part of the brain where nerve cells are responsible for the production of dopamine. There is no cure for Parkinson’s, but studies show that people that drink coffee have a 32-60% lower risk of getting Parkinson’s. It’s the caffeine in coffee that reduces the risks, so drinking decaf coffee wouldn’t low your risks 14 15 16 17 18
Coffee protects your liver.
The liver, being one of the largest organs in the human body. Helps the body with many functions like food digestion, energy storage and eliminates poisons from the body. Many diseases can affect the liver, such as hepatitis A, B and C, fatty liver disease and cirrhosis. Studies show that coffee drinkers that consume more than 4 cups a day are at 80% lower risk of cirrhosis. 19 20 21
Coffee protects you from Liver and Colorectal Cancer.
Let’s face it, cancer is extremely scary and it being one of the leading causes of death doesn’t make you feel too great either. Studies show that people who drink coffee have a 40% lower risk of liver cancer, and drinkers who consumed over 4 cups a day have a 15% low risk of colorectal cancer. 22 23 24
Coffee fights Depression.
Depression is a mood disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. Experiences of sadness, loss and even anger. Symptoms can come in waves or can be ongoing. This can affect daily life and lead to serious health problems. According to a study published in 2011, women who drank 4 cups or more of coffee a day had a 20% less chance of getting depressed. 25
Coffee contains essential vitamins and minerals.
Did you know that every cup of brewed coffee is packed with essential vitamins and minerals that do good for your body? It’s true 26 The next time you indulge in a cup of goodness, enjoy some of these vitamins and minerals that are listed below:
- Riboflavin
- Folate
- Pantothenic Acid
- Choline
- Niacin
- Magnesium
- Manganese
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
Coffee is a great source of Antioxidants.
This is one of the popular health benefits of drinking coffee. Coffee packs a substantial amount of antioxidants. According to scientists, they have identified over 1,000 antioxidants in raw coffee beans. There are more antioxidants in coffee than there are in fruits and vegetables combined, making coffee one of the healthiest drinks in the world. 27 28 29
Conclusion
So there you have it! Not only is coffee a delicious drink, but as you can see there are many health benefits of coffee. From giving us that much-needed jolt of energy in the mornings to protecting us from various diseases and cancers. So in honor of the health benefits of coffee, let’s brew ourselves a cup and commemorate!
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