“Don’t drink coffee, it’s bad for your health.” How many times have you heard this instruction? In a sea of online articles and opinions about the drawbacks of drinking coffee, it’s not very common to see an article about its actual health benefits. And what are you supposed to do if you’re an avid coffee lover and cannot start your day without the magical black drink that makes you so relaxed? This article will focus on the health benefits of coffee because we, people who are in love with its taste, need something to keep us going (you won’t take our coffee away from us!) So, apart from the most obvious benefit of coffee – its taste – what are the other positive aspects of drinking coffee? Make your cuppa and start reading!
1. It improves energy levels
There’s a good reason why you so desperately need your cup of coffee in the morning. According to a study, the stimulant caffeine found in coffee (which is also the most commonly absorbed psychoactive substance in the world) is absorbed into your bloodstream once you drink your cup. Once it gets to your brain, it increases other neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine and dopamine, which makes you a lot more energetic. This means that you have another reason for drinking your first coffee in the morning – it’s not only super tasty, but it also gives you that energy boost that you need for starting your day.
2. It makes you smarter
Many people will tell you that this is just a myth, but many trials conducted showed that coffee enhances many aspects of the brain. This most commonly reflects on memory, mood, reaction times and general cognitive functions. If you’re studying for an important exam or you have an important project to finish, doing so with a cup of coffee next to your laptop or book might bring the best results.
3. It helps you burn fat
Here’s good news to everyone who’ve always wanted to get rid of that extra fat on their belly – coffee might be the answer. Caffeine is found in almost every fat burning supplement, which makes this drink an excellent tool to burn some calories. Not only is it a scientifically proven (one of the very few) natural substances that help you burn fat, but it also boosts your metabolic rate by up to 11%. This is why having high-quality coffee pods in your kitchen is a great thing. Using them in the morning might kill two birds with one stone – it will improve your energy levels and your metabolism!
4. It improves physical performance
Apart from stimulating the nervous system and sending signals to the fat cells of your body, caffeine can also increase the adrenaline levels in your blood. This definitely makes our body ready for intense physical exertion, and if you love to work out, then drinking coffee might give you that special boost that you sometimes need. If you opt for this step, make sure to drink your coffee half an hour before the training session (not less!), and you’ll see how your performance is enhanced. On the other hand, according to an article in the Journal of Pain, two cups of coffee can cut your post-workout muscle pain by up to 48%.
5. It contains essential nutrients
Who said that coffee is just black water? Even though many claim that the nutrients originally found in the coffee bean don’t make it to your cup, there are plenty of nutrients that you will be absorbing while drinking your coffee. A single cup of coffee contains Vitamins B2 (11%), B3 (2%) and B5 (6%), as well as Manganese and Potassium (3%). Even though the numbers might seem small, they will quickly add up if you drink two cups of coffee per day or more.
6. It fights depression and suicide
We live in a cruel world, and the depression rate has been going through the roof in the last couple of years. However, the solution might lie in the coffee itself. Harvard conducted a study in 2011 which showed that women who drink 4 cups of coffee per day or more had a 20% lower risk of becoming depressed. On the other hand, another study with more than 200,000 individuals showed that people who drank 4 cups of coffee per day or more had 53% less chance of committing suicide.
7. It fights serious illnesses
All these benefits might look very minor and unimportant when compared the following one: coffee can help in lowering the risk of Type II Diabetes (it decreases by 9% for each daily cup of coffee), Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, and even Parkinson’s. Of course, the intake of coffee should be strictly monitored in these cases.
As you can see, coffee does bring us more good than just having that amazing taste, color and smell. So, the next time someone asks you to stop drinking coffee because it’s bad, make sure to show them this article. Touché!
Guest Blogger
Mia Taylor can be reached at mrsmiataylor@gmail.com or her website
