Coffee is a beverage that everyone loves. More than 50% of all Americans drink coffee every day. We all need that perfect morning dose of caffeine to kick start our day right, and coffee gives us precisely that. Regarding coffee’s nutritional makeup, coffee has a meager caloric count, with one cup having only 2.4 calories. Additionally, coffee contains protein, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, potassium, manganese, magnesium, and niacin.
Coffee has been subjected to considerable scrutiny. Those in favor vouch for its antioxidant benefits, memory-enhancing properties, and contribution towards heart and liver health. Those against it, however, argue about coffee’s role in indigestion, insomnia, and increased heart rate and blood pressure.
Benefits Of Coffee
Regardless of the arguments, science backs up claims concerning the benefits of coffee to overall health. Here is a list of coffee’s 12+ benefits that deem it the perfect beverage to start your morning.
1. Helps Liver Health
Coffee has been studied to contribute to improved liver function by increasing liver stimulation and circulation. The liver is one of the primary organs involved in holism. Cirrhosis is an end-stage liver disease in which the scar tissue replaces the liver tissue.
The primary cause of this damage is excess alcohol consumption over a prolonged period or infections such as hepatitis. Research suggests that coffee can reduce the rate of cirrhosis in the liver by a staggering 80% in those who drink four or more cups of coffee.
Additionally, the same group has a 40% reduced chance of developing liver cancer. Studies revealed an inverse relationship between coffee consumption and liver enzyme levels in the blood. Increased levels typically indicate liver damage and inflammation. Therefore, the greater the amount of coffee consumed, the lower the level of enzymes and, thus, liver damage.
2. Boosts Memory
There is a reason why everyone starts their day with a warm cup of coffee. Caffeine is a psychoactive stimulant, and coffee is one of its best sources. As the caffeine from the coffee makes its way to the brain, it inhibits adenosine. Adenosine is an inhibitory neurotransmitter.
The body releases neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine when coffee inhibits adenosine. These are stimulating neurotransmitters that cause a boost in mood, energy, Memory, and response time. In addition to making you more alert, it also induces small memory boosts.
Research has revealed a surge in brain activity in test subjects after consuming a cup of coffee. MRIs measured this as they performed a task concerned with memory and reaction time. This reveals that caffeine affects the brain’s Memory and concerned concentration centers.
3. Helps Weight Loss by Burning Fat
Coffee is an excellent fat burner. Statistics claim that coffee can increase your metabolism by almost 11%. Caffeine is a normal constituent of every weight loss supplement and fat loss pill.
This proved that caffeine could boost fat burning and metabolism, which thus aids weight loss. It increases the oxidation of fatty acids and mobilizes fatty acids from the fat tissues as well. For the best results, avoid adding sugar or creamers as they make up for the lost calories.
Related article: 12 Daily Foods To Boost Your Metabolism
4. Fights Oxidative Stress
Research shows that the human body absorbs more coffee nutrients than any other source. Coffee is a rich source of antioxidants and other nutrients that harbor multiple benefits. These include Vitamins B2, B3, and B5, Manganese, Magnesium, and Potassium.
Multiple research studies have shown that coffee’s antioxidant properties are more potent than tea or cocoa. This makes coffee an excellent tool for fighting free-radical damage. The two primary antioxidants involved in reducing oxidative stress and subsequent damages are chlorogenic acids and caffeic acid.
5. Reduces Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Black coffee has been reported to result in a 7% reduced risk on average for diabetes for every cup of coffee consumed. According to a research study, drinking two to three cups of coffee daily can significantly reduce one’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes in middle-aged women. Chlorogenic acid, one of the primary antioxidants in coffee, has been said to cause a reduction in glucose absorption from high-carb and high-sugar foods.
Caffeic acid, another major antioxidant, works by reducing the accumulation of toxic abnormal protein deposits in people with diabetes. These protein deposits are amyloid fibrils. This mechanism helps decelerate the rate of sugar released in the blood, thus aiding insulin resistance.
Experts believe that coffee works in multiple ways. One, it helps the body utilize insulin and protect insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, facilitating proper blood sugar regulation. Two, they prevent tissue damage, and three, they combat inflammation.
Related article: Diabetic Diet – Put These 13 Foods On Your Plate – P.S. Avoid These 13 Foods
6. Prevent Gout
Gout is a variant of arthritis resulting from uric acid accumulation in the joints. Uric acid deposits itself in the bone joints in the form of crystals, resulting in inflammation and pain. Studies reveal that people with a history of regular coffee consumption have a reduced risk of developing Gout.
According to the study’s results, women who drank four or more cups of coffee had a 57% reduced risk, whereas those who drank between one to two cups had a 22% reduced risk. As for the men, those who consumed four to five cups of coffee daily reported a 40% decreased risk, and those who had six or more cups had a 60% lesser chance respectively.
The antioxidants in coffee regulate insulin release and glucose monitoring, reducing uric acid in the blood. Less uric acid points to an automatically reduced risk of Gout.
Related article: High Uric Acid: Dietary Guidelines & Restrictions
7. Combats Depression
The smell of coffee can be quite calming. Caffeine affects the regulation of a variety of neurotransmitters in the brain. One such neurotransmitter is dopamine. Dopamine is also commonly referred to as the pleasure chemical whose effect leaves the person feeling happier and less depressed—elevated levels of dopamine point toward a better mood and a much more optimistic outlook and attitude.
Studies suggest an inverse relationship between the amount of coffee consumed and depression, revealing that heavy coffee drinkers, i.e., four or more cups daily, have a 20% reduced risk of developing depression.
Coffee is also said to help fight stress as it directly affects specific stress-induced proteins in the brain. This stress usually relates to sleep deprivation, which explains why everyone needs an early morning coffee fix to start the day right.
8. Reduces Cancer Risk
Coffee plays a vital role in reducing one’s risk of developing cancer. Regarding the causes of death, liver and colorectal cancers rank in the 3rd and 4th numbers, respectively. According to studies, people who drink 4 to 5 cups daily have a 15% reduced risk of developing colorectal cancer and a 40% reduced risk of developing liver cancer.
In addition to liver and colorectal cancer, studies show that coffee may reduce the risk of skin cancer in women by 20% and endometrial cancer by 25%. For men, coffee consumption may help reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer.
The anti-cancer properties of coffee are due to the presence of polyphenols, which are antioxidant phytochemicals present in coffee. These polyphenols have been studied to reduce inflammation that contributes to the development of certain tumors.
9. Helps Heart Health
According to a Dutch study, coffee is excellent for cardiovascular health as it reduces the risk of stroke by 20% in regular coffee drinkers. Caffeine increases the heart rate, improving health as its effect is comparable to going for a brisk walk. While this is no excuse to skip exercise, it is an excellent way to motivate one to be healthier.
Coffee is a rich source of cafestol and kahweol antioxidants. These compounds have been associated with cholesterol regulation in the body and prevent plaque deposition in the blood vessels.
10. Boosts Physical Performance
An impressive outcome of coffee consumption is improved physical performance. Coffee is a stimulant that increases mental and physical performance during exercise while also making you more alert and responsive. While caffeine does not improve one’s maximum oxygen capacity, it enhances an athlete’s endurance, power, and speed. Coffee is often used before and during exercise as an ergogenic aid.
Many athletes drink coffee before going to the gym as it boosts performance, increases concentration, and helps improve one’s stamina. It strengthens muscle contraction, reduces the athlete’s perception of fatigue-related pain, and increases fatty acids in the blood, thereby increasing endurance.
Research Studies reveal the athletic performance of those who consumed caffeine before exercising was much faster and overall better than those who drank placebos or decaf options.
There is a massive misconception about caffeine dehydrating, but caffeine harbors no such effect. Caffeine helps fight fatigue, enabling one to push for longer.
11. It May Prevent Neurodegeneration
Caffeine directly affects neurotransmitter regulation, which explains how coffee can enhance one’s Memory. Studies reveal that regular coffee drinkers have a 65% reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s, the most common neurodegenerative disorder globally.
As coffee increases blood flow to the brain, it helps enhance cognitive function and Memory. According to a study, there was a relationship between coffee consumption and lower levels of abnormal proteins – called amyloid beta or Abeta – in the brain.
Scientists believe that these proteins play a role in Alzheimer’s development. Thus drinking coffee helps keep the levels of these proteins low, automatically lessening your chances of getting Alzheimer’s disease. Coffee’s role in preventing diabetes has also been suggested to play a part in this, as diabetes is a risk factor for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Research suggests that coffee drinkers have a mean 45% reduced chance of developing Parkinson’s disease. It is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer’s disease. Parkinson’s disease is mainly due to the depletion of dopamine-generating neurons in the brain. These reduced dopamine levels entail movement issues, such as tremors, muscle rigidity, impaired posture, loss of speech, and memory loss.
12. Prevents Retinal Damage
Coffee has been studied to reduce retinal damage associated with glaucoma or aging. This is due to the antioxidant in coffee called chlorogenic acid or CLA. CLA helps reduce oxidative stress on the retina of the eye.
The retina is a thin tissue layer that requires high oxygen levels to remain healthy and well-functioning. Oxidative stress can damage the retina and thus contribute to poor eyesight, vision loss, and retinal degeneration.
13. Helps Calm Migraines
Headaches are common, and pain meds are the only way to defeat them. Pain relief medicines constitute caffeine as one of the main ingredients; therefore, it is not surprising that coffee can help with migraines.
Studies reveal that regular coffee drinkers are more accustomed to the effects of caffeine owing to their developed tolerance to the compound. However, coffee can double as a tool to fight headaches for people who do not drink coffee regularly. Since their bodies are not used to the effects of coffee, its impact is much more substantial and potent.
CONCLUSION
Coffee is a concoction that is not only delicious but also harbors countless benefits. However, all good things should be kept in moderation, as too much of anything is harmful. Now that there is an array of delectable and addicting ways to have coffee, do not get carried away.
Usually, these coffee drinks come with a lot of creamer and sugar that cancel out coffee’s benefits. For the best results, avoid adding sugar in copious amounts as it will only contribute to increased weight and nothing more.
