Coffee has always been a breakfast staple for many people around the world. Based on statistics, all coffee drinkers around the world consume a total of 2.25 billion cups per day. Because of this demand, coffee production has been a multimillion-dollar industry for decades now.
Aside from being your instant pick-me-up drink or your staying-awake pill, there are other benefits of drinking coffee in your body. Here are some reasons why daily intake of coffee is beneficial to your health:
1. It’s an excellent source of antioxidants
You might be thinking that you can only get your daily dose of antioxidants in bottled dietary supplements. However, there are a lot of natural sources of antioxidants, and coffee is one good source. Studies show that coffee beans, when still unprocessed, contain more antioxidants than their alternatives—green tea and cocoa.
Antioxidants are well known to reduce inflammation in our bodies. They are popular in the health and wellness world because they prevent the formation of free radicals that cause oxidative stress, which results in premature skin aging and other chronic diseases.
If you want to reap the maximum amount of antioxidants in your coffee, buy whole coffee beans and learn Tradecraft’s guide to coffee grinders.
2. It can alleviate depression
Mental health issues are prevalent nowadays, and coffee might be a great solution for them. Although further studies should still be conducted to support this claim, coffee is said to play a role in lowering depression in both male and females.
2. It has strength- and endurance-enhancing properties
Most dietary and exercise supplements contain caffeine as one of their components. This is because caffeine combats fatigue that is a typical symptom experienced by athletes and fitness buffs. Not only does it prevent fatigue, but it is also found out that coffee promotes muscular strength and endurance and numbs the pain receptors. It also increases the concentration of healthy fatty acids in the body, boosting muscular endurance.
3. It can provide a boost in memory
Staying alert and sharp is another benefit of drinking coffee. A group of researchers at Austria’s Medical University Innsbruck studied the effects of coffee on the cognitive health of coffee drinkers. Their data showed that coffee improves the memory and brain reaction of those with coffee in their system in comparison with a group with no coffee intake. They found out that caffeine boosts memory and concentration. So, if you’re studying and preparing for a test, you know what to do.
Some studies also have shown the benefit of coffee in improving the cognitive abilities of patients with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The science behind this is the ability of caffeine to prevent beta-amyloid plaque from forming. This plaque is the one responsible for the onset and progression of such diseases.
5. It can prevent certain cancers and diseases
One of the interesting benefits of coffee is its potential of reducing the risk of cancers and heart diseases.
Researchers from Harvard claimed that coffee lowers the risk of prostate cancer in men and endometrial cancer in women. Some studies also showed that daily intake of coffee could also prevent the development of liver, colon, rectal, and breast cancers.
Coffee can also prevent heart diseases from happening because of its ability to fight off inflammation of damaged arteries.
Polyphenols, another antioxidant found in coffee, is proven to have anticarcinogenic properties. It is also said to also work the same as other antioxidants by reducing inflammation in the body.
6. It promotes healthy functioning of your pancreas and liver
Coffee is said to be helpful in facilitating the proper secretion of insulin in the pancreas by protecting the organ from being damaged, resulting in the effective regulation of sugar levels in the blood. As a result, it can prevent the development of diabetes.
It is already mentioned that coffee can help prevent liver cancer. In addition to that, the daily consumption of coffee can also prevent the development of liver cirrhosis. Coffee balances the production and activity of liver enzymes. Overproduction of these enzymes is linked to damage and inflammation of the liver, which result in liver cirrhosis.
Although daily consumption of coffee is beneficial to your health, you should also observe moderation in drinking your cup of joe. Drinking a lot of coffee does not mean you’ll be getting maximum levels of antioxidants for your body. You may experience different results, such as low sleep quality and insomnia, elevated blood pressure, and irritability. Like any other substances, coffee, when taken too much, has side effects that are different for each person. The best way to enjoy coffee without experiencing its adverse side effects is to limit your cups a day. You can take it early in the morning as it takes time for caffeine to wear off. You might want to try decaffeinated coffee if you are worried about the high concentration of caffeine.
