Coffee has many health benefits that range from mental clarity to cancer prevention and pain and headache relief. It’s also a great way to boost metabolism.
Studies suggest that heavy coffee drinkers (three or more cups per day) experience less depression and other mental health issues than those who don’t drink coffee at all. In this post, we’ll explore these and other top benefits of coffee and how they can improve your life. Let’s get started!
How Can Coffee Improve My Cognition?
People have been drinking coffee for centuries in order to improve their focus and mental clarity. A 2016 study, published in the science journal Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, showed that coffee improves cognitive function, memory, and vigilance.
The mechanism which explains these benefits is found in coffee’s caffeine. Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors in the brain, which reduces the drowsiness caused by the chemical. Caffeine also stimulates the central nervous system, which increases alertness and focus.
Does It Provide Any Other Brain Benefits?
There is some evidence that coffee can reduce the risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. Adenosine is associated with the buildup of beta-amyloid, the brain plaque scientists have linked with Alzheimer’s disease. Coffee’s ability to bind adenosine receptors can help prevent the disease.
Meanwhile, caffeine has been found to protect the cells in your brain that produce dopamine. Low dopamine levels are believed to be the leading cause of Parkinson’s. Furthermore, coffee also contains antioxidants that protect your brain from the damage that can lead to the development of dementia.
How Can Coffee Improve My Liver Health?
Coffee contains antioxidants that can help protect your liver from disease. The antioxidants in coffee neutralize the free radicals that damage your liver. Coffee also aids the liver in removing harmful chemicals and toxins from your body. In fact, drinking coffee may help to reduce your risk of liver cancer by up to 50%.
How Can Coffee Improve My Cardiovascular Health?
Coffee contains antioxidants that can protect your heart from damage. By drinking one or two cups of coffee a day, you can reduce your risk of stroke and heart failure by up to 50%. The caffeine in coffee also helps to improve your blood circulation and lower blood pressure over time.
Can Coffee Reduce My Risk of Cancer?
According to Harvard’s School of Public Health, coffee has been shown to reduce the risk of some forms of cancer. The antioxidants and polyphenols found in coffee can help protect against DNA damage and reduce the risk of cancerous cells from forming. Coffee may also help to increase the speed of tumor destruction.
How Can Coffee Improve My Productivity?
Coffee is an excellent source of caffeine, which is a natural stimulant. Caffeine helps to improve focus and concentration while also decreasing fatigue. According to the American Academy of Neurology, coffee may improve memory, reaction time, and mood. This means that it can help increase your energy and focus on the task at hand, which will keep you maximally productive throughout the day.
Can Coffee Help Me Avoid Developing Type II Diabetes?
According to the CDC, type II diabetes is a condition that affects about 9.4% of the population in the United States. Type II diabetes is caused by the body’s inability to produce or use insulin properly.
Coffee has been shown to help the body use insulin more effectively, which reduces the risk of developing type II diabetes. Not to mention the caffeine, which helps to increase the body’s ability to use glucose for energy. Finally, coffee also contains antioxidants that protect the cells in your pancreas, the organ which produces insulin.
How Can Coffee Help Me Reach My Weight Goals?
Caffeine has limited benefits as an appetite suppressant. Still, the chlorogenic acids found in abundance in light roast coffees shine in helping you meet your weight goals. First, the acids help reduce the absorption of fat and calories from food. They also help to increase your body’s metabolic rate, which causes you to burn more calories. Finally, chlorogenic acids help to decrease the amount of sugar stored in your liver.
How Can Coffee Help Me Reach My Fitness Goals?
Caffeine in coffee can improve your athletic performance by providing an energy boost and preventing fatigue. As mentioned in an earlier paragraph, caffeine blocks adenosine receptors, stopping drowsiness. Higher alertness allows you to exercise for more extended periods without feeling tired. The caffeine in coffee also helps to improve your blood circulation, providing your muscles with more oxygen, which can result in a better workout.
How Can Coffee Protect My Mental Health?
Coffee is a rich source of polyphenols, which are plant-based antioxidants. On Harvard’s School of Public Health website, they have written that polyphenols can increase serotonin and dopamine levels in your brain. Serotonin promotes feelings of happiness and well-being, while dopamine is associated with pleasure and motivation. This suggests that coffee, whether caffeinated or not, may have antidepressant effects.
Can Coffee Reduce My Risk of Mortality?
According to a study published in the medical journal Circulation, drinking moderate amounts of coffee is associated with a lower risk of early death. The study found that people who drink three to five cups of coffee a day are 20% less likely to die prematurely from any cause than those who don’t drink coffee at all. The benefits were seen even in people who drank decaf coffee, so it’s not just the caffeine responsible for the protective benefits.
How Can I Make The Most Out Of My Morning Coffee?
Everyone’s morning coffee ritual is different, but there are a few ways that you can maximize the beneficial health effects of your morning brew. The lighter the roast, the better. A darker roast has the same caffeine content but less chlorogenic acid, and polyphenols. Chlorogenic acid gives coffee its ability to help you lose weight and reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Polyphenols help protect your mental health.
Also, consider drinking your coffee black. Adding sugar and flavored creamers cancels out coffee’s positive effects on your metabolism. To get even more benefits from your morning cup of coffee, consider adding spices like cinnamon or nutmeg. Spices are high in antioxidants and are associated with reduced inflammation, giving you additional health benefits.
Hi, I’m Jen Williams, chief editor and writer for ThirstPerk.com.
I’ve been drinking coffee and tea for most of my life, but it wasn’t until I started working at Thirstperk.com that I became an expert on the subject. I’m a total caffeine addict who has spent hours upon hours reading about and experimenting with the different types of coffees out there in my search to find the perfect cup of joe.
I’ve been a tea lover for as long as I can remember as well. I grew up in a house with a mom who loved to drink herbal tea, and I think that’s where my love for tea first began. These days, I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting teas to try, and I love experimenting with different brewing methods and flavoring combinations.
