If you’re the sort of person who walks bleary-eyed to your percolator as soon as you wake up, then you know that one big benefit of drinking coffee is the caffeine hit it gives you – this can make you wide awake and ready to take on the day. But have you ever wondered about the other benefits of drinking coffee? Or are you wondering if your favorite drink is doing you more harm than good?
Coffee is a fantastic, natural beverage that delivers a whole host of health benefits to people that drink it. We’re going to look at some of those benefits now. But before we do, it is important to make it clear that these health benefits come from drinking black coffee or coffee with reasonable portions of milk or cream.
Iced coffee that’s loaded with sugar and sweet stuff might taste great, and it may give you some of those great coffee benefits you get from a regular cup but, these benefits will be far outweighed by the sugar and processed foods combined with your coffee.
Keep your coffee habits simple, and you’ll get all of these key benefits:
The Benefits Of Coffee
Energy Boost
Coffee is rich in caffeine. And that caffeine gives you a huge energy boost, which can have dramatic positive effects on your life. It is scientifically proven that athletic performance is boosted by consuming coffee before a sporting event. The caffeine helps to release more adrenaline, giving you a boost of enthusiasm. Huge sports stars, such as Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy, credit their boundless energy to a cup or two of coffee before performing. Studies have also proven that coffee will make you more vigilant and focused, which is perfect for sporting performance.
Improves Memory
Studies have shown that drinking coffee helps with memory retention. That’s because the caffeine inside coffee blocks certain neurotransmitters, stimulating your brain and making it function more effectively. This memory boost is down to you being more focused.
Aids Weight Loss
Drinking coffee can help you shed pounds. There are a few reasons for this. Firstly, it boosts your metabolism, meaning that your body uses up calories quicker. In fact, with obese people, coffee boosts your metabolism by a whopping rate between 3% and 11%. It increases your fat-burning between 10% and 29%. Secondly, it gives you more energy, meaning that you can perform to a higher degree when you’re working out. Therefore you burn more calories.
Rich In Nutrients
Coffee is loaded with lots of fantastic nutrients that provide you with a bunch of great health benefits. Some of the nutrients contained in coffee include riboflavin, pantothenic acid, manganese, potassium, magnesium, and niacin.
Several studies have shown that drinking coffee can help to ward off some diseases that are found in elderly people. These studies have shown that drinking coffee regularly can make you between 30% and 62% less likely to become affected by Parkinson’s disease, and other studies have shown that drinking coffee can make you 65% less at risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease. Both of these diseases are neurodegenerative diseases, which is a further example of the positive effects upon the brain that regular coffee drinking delivers.
Happy Times Ahead
Studies have shown that coffee can even fight depression. These studies are only of people who drink 4 cups of coffee a day. But the most exhaustive of these studies found that you’re 53% less likely to commit suicide if you drink 4 cups of coffee a day. Of course, in the short term, coffee also gives you a huge boost. It triggers a dopamine release that makes you feel instantly more positive and energetic.
Packed With Antioxidants
It might surprise you to find out that coffee contains more antioxidants than many fruits and vegetables. Drinking it brings you all the benefits that antioxidants deliver, meaning that you may be less likely to contract cancer if you’re a coffee drinker. Generally, antioxidants help to detoxify the body and keep it in a fit, sharp, healthy state.
Warning!
As with everything, you must always consume coffee in moderation. Drinking too much coffee can lead to certain side-effects, and some people are also more sensitive to caffeine than others. Always listen to your body. If you find that your caffeine intake contributes to anxiety or makes it more difficult for you to sleep, then you shouldn’t drink it. Fortunately, a lot of the health benefits that coffee delivers are also found in decaffeinated coffee. So, if you are sensitive to caffeine, then try a cup of decaf.
Conclusion
As you can see, coffee is a very healthy drink that doesn’t even contain any calories, as long as it’s drunk without milk or sugar. It can help your brain function better, boost your metabolism, and help ward off degenerative diseases. The antioxidants and nutrients that it contains can even help you live longer. Drinking coffee does more than open your eyes in the morning. It helps your body function to the best of its ability, and give you a caffeine hit that is much healthier than a sugary energy drink.
