8 Healthy Benefits of Drinking Coffee
Coffee may be commonly known around the world as the jumpstart beverage, but apparently, it provides a slew of other health benefits for our body according to various studies. And in this post, we conjured a list of those amazing benefits, backed by authentic citations as well. So here are 8 benefits that coffee connoisseurs and many others should be wary of today:
1. It Can Aid in Burning Fat
One of the most interesting finds is that caffeine is a common ingredient in most fat-burning supplements. And the reason for that is because it is a natural substance that actually aids in burning fat.
In fact, several studies, including this one, conclude that caffeine can enhance your metabolic rate by 3–11%. Another study shows that caffeine can enhance the metabolic rate of obese individuals by 10% and 29% in lean people.
However, there is a possibility that this effect is minimized in long-term coffee drinkers.
2. Improves Energy Levels and Make You Smarter
By now, many people are aware that coffee makes people less tired and boost their energy levels. This is due to caffeine, which is the most commonly consumed psychoactive substance around the world.
After drinking coffee, the caffeine gets absorbed into our bloodstream, which then later travels to the brain. There, the caffeine blocks the inhibitory neurotransmitter known as adenosine. This results in an increase in the number of other neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine and dopamine, which then leads to enhanced firing of neurons.
Numerous controlled studies reveal that drinking coffee improves several aspects of brain function such as mood, memory, energy levels, vigilance, reaction times and general mental function.
3. Lowers Risk of Type-2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a serious health problem affecting millions around the world, defined elevated blood sugar levels that are caused by insulin resistance or a reduced ability to secrete insulin.
However, coffee drinkers, for some reason, have a significantly reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. Some studies show that those who drink coffee have a 23-50% less chance of getting this disease. There is even one study that reveals a 67% reduction of type-2 diabetes for coffee drinkers.
In a large review of 18 studies involving a total of 457,922 people, it concluded that each daily cup of coffee leads to a 7% reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.
4. Drastically Improve Your Physical Performance
According to some studies, caffeine stimulates your nervous system, which in turn signals the fat cells to break down your body fat. It also increases your epinephrine (adrenaline) levels in your blood. Epinephrine is a fight-or-flight hormone that prepares your body for extreme physical exercise or exertion.
When caffeine breaks down body fat, it turns free fatty acids as a source of fuel. With such finds, it’s not hard to picture that caffeine can improve one’s physical performance by 11-12%, on average. That’s why it’s usually a good idea to have a strong cup of coffee for about half an hour before you head to the gym.
5. May Help Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
Alzheimer’s disease is arguably the most common neurodegenerative disease and is also the top cause for dementia all over the world. The disease is documented to affect people over the age of 65 and at the present, there is no known cure for it.
Still, there are several ways to prevent the disease from developing in its earlier stages and some of them include eating a healthy balanced meal, exercising and even drinking coffee. As a matter of fact, a number of studies show that coffee drinkers have a 65% less chance of developing Alzheimer’s.
6. May Reduce the Risk of Developing Parkinson’s
After Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease is the second most commonly occurring neurodegenerative condition in the world. This disease is caused by the elimination of our brain’s dopamine-generating neurons. And just like Alzheimer’s, there is no known cure for it, meaning great focus has to be set in preventing its development.
Studies reveal that those who drink coffee have a much 32-60% lower chance of developing Parkinson’s disease.
7. It Fights Depression and Makes You Happier
Depression is a common and serious mental problem that leads to a significantly reduced quality of life. In fact, it is so common that about 4.1% of people in the US meet the criteria for clinical depression.
One study, however, shows that women who consumed at least 4 cups of coffee daily had a 20% lower chance of getting depressed. Another study involving 208,424 individuals revealed that people who drank at least 4 cups of coffee a day were had a 53% less chance of committing suicide.
8. It Protects Your Liver
Drinking coffee can prevent several common liver-related diseases including hepatitis, fatty liver disease and more. It is worth being concerned over because many of these diseases can potentially lead to cirrhosis, in which your liver can be replaced by a scar tissue.
Fortunately, coffee has been reported to guard you against cirrhosis, as those who drink 4 or more cups of a coffee daily have an 80% lesser chance of getting the disease.