7 Amazing Benefits of Coffee
For those of you whose day is incomplete without a cup of coffee, this article is for you. In recent years, scientists have studied the health benefits of coffee and the results have been so amazing! Coffee isn’t just warm and energising. It is also packed with essential nutrients that improve mood and lower your risk of certain diseases!
The history of coffee goes as far back as the thirteenth century. Since then, it became one of the most popular beverages in the world.
Here are some of the surprising benefits of coffee.
Coffee helps lower risk of diabetes.
Moderate consumption of coffee may reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes, according to a published study by the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee (ISIC). The research found that three to four cups of coffee per day is associated to 25% lower risk of the disease compared to consuming less than two cups of coffee or none at all.
It may prevent formation of gallstones.
This revitalising beverage is also thought to help prevent the formation of gallstone. In a 1999 study published in the British Medical Journal, male participants who consumed 2 to 3 cups of coffee daily reduced their risk of developing gallstones by 4%.
Coffee is a haven of antioxidants.
In fact, we get most of our antioxidants from coffee (that’s probably because most of us consume more coffee than fruits and vegetables). Coffee has more antioxidants than tea, according to Liz Applegate, director of sports nutrition at the University of California at Davis. Not only that. A cup of coffee contains Vitamin B1, B2, B3 and B5, manganese, and potassium.
Coffee can make you smarter.
Caffeine doesn’t just stimulate your mind and keep you alert. It also blocks the effects of adenosine in your brain. This results to increased neuronal firing and the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine that improve cognitive function.
It helps you burn more fats.
In addition to eating healthy and exercising, drinking coffee may also help you lose weight. Caffeine speeds up metabolism and increases the oxidation of fatty acids, according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. This is probably why caffeine is a crucial ingredient in weight loss supplements. It can also enhance your physical performance, making exercise less daunting.
It lowers your risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
Not only can coffee make you smarter. It can also cut your risk of developing some of the most common and worse mental health disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s. A paper published in the European Journal of Neurology suggests that coffee drinkers may have up to 60% lower risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Coffee is good for your liver.
Multiple studies have shown that coffee may cut the risk of cirrhosis by as much as 80%. The greatest effect was observed among those who consumed 4 cups of coffee a day. Another study published in the journal Annals of Epidemiology suggests that coffee may inhibit the onset of alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis. It also helps lower the risk of liver cancer by 40%.
A Friendly Reminder
Whilst drinking coffee in general is good for you, too much of it can be harmful. To preserve the health benefits of this amazing bean, avoid adding sugar and cream (use the low-fat variety if you want). If caffeine appears to affect your sleep, don’t drink it after 2 pm. And if you want a not-so-strong cup of coffee, reach for instant coffee as it only contains around 65 mg of caffeine as compared to ground roast coffee which has 115 mg.
Bottom line – as long as you keep your consumption moderate, coffee can be one of the healthiest beverages you can drink!
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