For years’ people thought that coffee was really bad for your health. But recently, new studies have suggested that coffee might actually be better than what was once thought.
Can Make You Smarter
Caffeine, the stimulant in coffee, could actually make you smarter! Caffeine’s Primary function in the brain is to block out the effects of an inhibitory neurotransmitter called Adenosine. By blocking these effects caffeine can increase brain power and release other neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine.
Can Help You Burn Fat and Improve Physical Performance
Caffeine doesn’t only have a stimulus effect on the brain, but on the nervous system as well. This helps raise metabolism and increases the oxidation of fatty acids 4, 5 and 6. In two separate studies, caffeine was found to increase exercise by an average of 11-12%.
May Drastically Lower Your Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes has become an epidemic but is entirely lifestyle related. The disease is characterised by high blood glucose levels and not enough insulin, due to insulin resistance or inability to produce insulin. Studies have shown that drinking coffee can reduce the risk of this happening, just hold back a bit of the sugar.
May Lower Risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
Coffee can protect your brain in the long run. Alzheimer’s is the most common neurodegenerative disease in the world and the leading cause of dementia. Studies have shown that coffee drinkers have up to a 60% lower risk of developing these later in life.
Parkinson’s is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, and drinking coffee may lower your risk by 32-60%.
May Be Good for Your Liver
Multiple studies have shown that drinking coffee can lower your risk of cirrhosis – the end stage of liver damage caused by alcoholism and hepatitis – by as much as 80%.
It may also lower your risk of liver cancer by up to 40%.
May Decrease Your Risk of Premature Death
In two large and separate studies, drinking coffee was associated with a lower risk of death in general.
Loaded with Nutrients and Antioxidants
Coffee contains an impressive amount of vitamins and minerals. A single cup of coffee contains;
- 11% Vitamin B2
- 6% Vitamin B5
- 3% Potassium and Manganese
- 2% Niacin (B3) and Thiamine (B1)
Not only that, but coffee is the biggest source of antioxidants in the western diet, ranking higher than fruits and vegetables combined.
These are the health benefits of drinking coffee, and although there are some aspects of coffee that are still bad for you, you just need to remember – everything in moderation.