It’s surprising to think that coffee, one of the most abused and blamed beverages in the world, is now the most popular beverage.
Coffee was literarily blamed for a range of health problems. But today, things have changed. Researchers have made us realize that coffee can be the answer to a myriad of health problems.
This beverage comes packed with nutrients and antioxidants. And according to studies, antioxidants help the body get rid of free radicals, thus preventing free radicals-induced health problems.
We have highlighted most of the incredible benefits of coffee. Do you care to know what they are? Keep reading!
1. A Proven Memory Booster
A retentive memory is an asset for young people, particularly students. Coffee not only has the capacity to improve alertness. It can also improve student’s short-term memory, so they can store new information during study session.
The sign of old age isn’t only associated with wrinkles. Cognitive decline is also part of it. That is, as one grows old, they can easily forget things.
Aging can also increase one’s risk of having brain disorders, such as Dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease. Over 5 million Americans are reportedly dealing with Alzheimer’s disease, an irreversible brain disorder.
In addition to increasing forgetfulness, Alzheimer’s disease sufferers can’t do their daily routines like they use to. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that reduces people’s quality of life.
But help isn’t far way. Studies have shown that black coffee can reduce one’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Research conducted shows that it can reduce the disease by 65 percent.
Note – Make it a habit to exercise regularly and eat healthily. Combining these lifestyle changes and regular coffee consumption will lower your chances of developing brain disorders at old age.
2. Cause You To Live Longer
Everyone wants to live longer and enjoy life to the fullest. And there’s nothing wrong with that.
However, saying that coffee can make you live longer might sound unrealistic to many. But there are pieces of evidence that confirm that coffee can add a couple of years to one’s life.
In a study involving two large groups, with both consisting of coffee drinkers and non-coffee drinkers, researchers discovered reduced mortality in the group of regular coffee drinkers compared to non-drinkers. Another separate study conducted to support this claim gave a similar result.
Furthermore, another reason coffee may help you live longer is because it can keep numerous diseases at bay. Most of these diseases are life-threatening or could degenerate and become more severe over time.
So, if you want to add more years to your life, start drinking coffee. Make it your main beverage. Remember that besides adding more years to your life, coffee can keep you healthy and strong.
3. May Help You Lose Weight.
You’re probably looking to lose weight, have or had a friend who is. That’s how serious and widespread weight loss has become.
Knowing that excess weight can cause numerous life-threatening health problems have heightened many people’s fear, causing them to search for miracle weight loss products at all cost.
All these have turned the weight loss industry into a multi-billion dollar industry. Today, weight loss products sell more than anything.
Now, do you know that coffee can help you lose weight and burn stubborn belly fat? Yes, it can.
Coffee contains caffeine. It’s the biggest dietary source of caffeine. A cup of coffee may furnish your body with approximately 95 mg of caffeine.
Check the ingredients of most commercial weight loss products out there. You will find caffeine among them. It’s the same caffeine present in coffee, which is also responsible for its fat-burning properties.
According to studies, coffee’s caffeine can increase one’s metabolic rate by 3 to 11 percent. This beverage can also up the rate at which you burn fat by 29 percent.
As a fat burner, another way that coffee work is by stimulating the nervous system. By so doing, it encourages the breaking down of fatty cells for energy instead of glycogen.
Note – It would be unfair to regularly drink coffee for weight loss when you haven’t made any dietary changes or exercising regularly. Combining coffee with regular exercise and a healthy diet will help you lose weight and stay fit long-term.
To enjoy the weight loss benefits of black coffee, here’s what you need to do.
Drink coffee at least 30 minutes before you arrive at the gym. You will see the effect when you start working out. Coffee will make you more active throughout your workout session.
4. May Lower Risk Of Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus, known popularly as diabetes, is a dreadful metabolic disease that results in high blood sugar. The World Health Organization (WHO) claims diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in 2016.
This disease can reduce one’s quality of life. The high cost of managing diabetes makes it even more dreadful. On top of that, diabetic patients can’t eat certain foods, particularly foods that can increase blood sugar levels.
So, literarily, prevention is the wisest step to take when it comes to diabetes. It’s better than seeking a cure for the disease.
Interestingly, coffee can lower your risk of having diabetes. Studies suggest that whether decaffeinated or caffeinated, coffee consumptions can help lower people’s risks of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Studies confirm that individuals who consume the most coffee have a 23 to 50 percent lower risk of developing the disease in their lifetime.
Eighteen studies involving over 450,000 people were reviewed, and the result showed that each cup of coffee consumed helps lower the risk of type 2 diabetes by 7 percent.
5. Increases Your Energy Levels And Mood
Most times, getting out of bed in the morning feels like a herculean task. But have you noticed that when you gulp down a cup of coffee, you’ll automatically become sharp and more energetic?
The reason for this is the caffeine present in the coffee. Caffeine is a natural stimulant that can make your super alert and energetic.
How does coffee boost energy? Immediately you gulp a cup of coffee, the beverage makes its way to your brain and starts working. It also starts working immediately, not an hour later.
When coffee gets to the brain, it stops adenosine, a neurotransmitter responsible for making the brain tired, and thereafter, affecting other parts of the body. This abrupt stop helps to activate the noradrenalin neuron, which then encourages increased dopamine levels in the brain. When this happens, you feel more energetic, happy and ready to get on with your daily activities.
6. Encourages Improved Liver Health
The liver is one of the vital organs in the body. It’s not just the largest but one of the most active. The liver plays diverse roles to keep us alive. It has over 500 functions. So, such a crucial and hardworking organ needs to be protected at all costs.
However, one of the cheapest ways to protect the liver is by consuming coffee. Coffee is natural and has been proven effective for the improvement of liver health.
Numerous studies have confirmed how effective coffee is in keeping the liver protected. One of the studies confirms that coffee protects the organ from diseases. These include alcohol cirrhosis, reduced risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.
The beverage can also reduce the replication of hepatitis C virus.
Note – Daily consumption of 4 or more cups of coffee can help lower your risk of developing any liver disease by 80 percent. This beverage can help reduce harmful liver enzyme levels in the blood too.
So, if you want to pamper and protect your liver, make coffee a must-have beverage. Daily consumption will keep your liver healthier and functional.
7. Reduces Risk Of Heart Disease
Coffee was once viewed as a harmful beverage to the heart. But a new analysis has proven otherwise. However, coffee still causes temporary rise in blood pressure, thought this drops after a short while.
In one of the newest and longest-running studies on the link between coffee and heart health, the researchers discovered that coffee consumption resulted in a massive reduction on the risk of heart failure. There was also a reduction in coronary heart disease and stroke.
The analysis shows that each cup of coffee consumed reduced heart failure by 8 percent, while coronary heart disease and stroke were reduced by 5 and 7 percent, respectively.
So, coffee is good for your heart health. It can help prevent coronary disease and put your heart in good shape to function optimally.
8. Prevents Free Radicals-Induced Cell Damage
When a discussion about cell damage and diseases springs up, free radicals always end up as the culprit. Free radicals are unstable atoms that not only damage cells but cause several illnesses and aging signs.
So, what role does coffee play in keeping free radicals at bay? Coffee comes packed with antioxidants. Endogenous antioxidants are the ones made by our body to combat diverse free radicals, while the exogenous antioxidants are the ones gotten from external sources.
Antioxidants bind with free radicals’ unstable atom, by sacrificing their electron. This action results in the termination of oxidative chain reactions caused by free radicals. It makes free radicals powerless and unable to attack cells.
Note – Compared to other beverages, coffee has the highest antioxidants levels. So, drinking several cups of coffee daily will do you a world of good.
9. Lowers Risk Of Depression
Depression is a mental disorder that could be mild or severe. Depression can affect people’s quality of life. Around the globe, over 264 million people are suffering from depression. These include people of all age groups and gender.
According to WHO, depression is termed the leading cause of disability in the world. This condition can also lead to suicide.
So, self-care is paramount to reduce risk depression. Drinking coffee has been proven helpful in the fight against depression.
Coffee is one of the beverages that can help improve your mental health. According to studies, people who drink coffee have a lower risk of having depression. Studies also show that individuals who drank 4 or more cups had a much lower risk of depression than those who drank fewer cups.
Researchers have been able to tie anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties of coffee to its effectiveness in lowering depression symptoms. Coffee can also help to elevate one’s mood.
10. Boost Lung Function
The lungs also benefit immensely from coffee. This beverage can have positive impact on the lungs because of the myriads of substances it contains. And among them is caffeine.
Caffeine is a weak bronchodilator and potent in lowering respiratory muscle fatigue, even in Asthmatic patients.
In a study conducted on the impact of caffeine on Asthma, the result showed that even the smallest amount of caffeine could improve lung function for up to 4 hours.
Another study conducted supported the above claim. The researchers also confirmed that coffee could lower deaths caused by respiratory disease.
11. Lowers Risk Of Developing Cancer
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death around the globe. It affects all gender and age groups. However, age is the biggest risk factor for cancer—the risk of developing cancer increases after 50 years of age.
Research has shown that compounds in coffee can lower the risk of several forms of cancers. These include colon, breast, rectal, and liver cancers.
The anti-inflammatory properties of coffee are well-documented. So, it’s evident that coffee consumption can help to lower inflammation and prevent tumor from developing.
12. Can Reduce The Risk Of Gout
If you want to lower or prevent gout, drink enough coffee daily. Consuming several cups of coffee every day can reduce the risk of developing gout by 50 percent.
Note – You don’t need to add sugar to your coffee. Just consume it that way. Adding sugar might cause a flare-up.
Conclusion
Coffee is not just refreshing and enjoyable. This beverage is loaded with nutrients and antioxidants that can profit the body. Coffee can keep you healthier, smarter, and stronger. It can help prevent a host of diseases and cause you to feel more energetic every single day.
We have highlighted the benefits coffee offers. We hope this information will give you a reason to start taking coffee consumption seriously.
