It is terribly cold for a Monday morning but all in all you have to bundle up and go to work, because well, rain is no excuse not to work but then it is an excuse to gulp more cups of coffee.
We all know a cup of coffee in the morning especially on a cold day like today is great but it becomes greater when you are aware you are taking more than just an energy boost.
Here are several evidence-based health benefits associated with drinking this dark black beverage, and therefore you have an excuse to drink more of those cups, enjoy the read.
1. Coffee Can Improve Energy Levels and Make You Smarter
Coffee can help people feel less tired and increase energy levels. This is because it contains a stimulant called caffeine, which is actually the most commonly consumed psychoactive substance in the world.
After you drink coffee, the caffeine is absorbed into the bloodstream. From there, it travels into the brain. Coffee improves various aspects of brain function like memory, mood, vigilance, energy levels, reaction times and general cognitive function.
Caffeine blocks an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, which leads to a stimulant effect. This improves energy levels, mood and various aspects of brain function.
2. Coffee Can Help You Burn Fat
Caffeine is one of the very few natural substances that have actually been proven to aid fat burning. Several studies show that caffeine can boost the metabolic rate by 3-11%. Specifically increasing the burning of fat, by as much as 10% in obese individuals and 29% in lean people. However, it is possible that these effects will diminish in long-term coffee drinkers.
3. The Caffeine Can Drastically Improve Physical Performance
Caffeine stimulates the nervous system, causing it to send signals to the fat cells to break down body fat. But caffeine also increases Epinephrine (Adrenaline) levels in the blood. Caffeine makes the fat cells break down body fat, releasing them into the blood as free fatty acids and making them available as fuel leading to significant improvements in physical performance.
4. There Are Essential Nutrients in Coffee
Coffee is more than just black water. Many of the nutrients in the coffee beans do make it into the final drink. Coffee contains several important nutrients, including Riboflavin, Pantothenic Acid, Manganese, Potassium, Magnesium and Niacin.
5. Coffee May Protect You from Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease and the leading cause of dementia worldwide. The disease with no known cure usually affects people over 65 years of age. However, several studies show there are several things like eating healthy, exercising can do to prevent the disease and coffee drinkers have a much lower risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease, which is a leading cause of dementia worldwide.
6. Coffee Appears to Have Protective Effects on the Liver
The liver is an amazing organ that carries out hundreds of important functions in the body. Several common diseases primarily affect the liver, including hepatitis, fatty liver disease and others. Many of these diseases can lead to a condition called cirrhosis, in which the liver has been largely replaced by scar tissue. Coffee drinkers have a much lower risk of developing cirrhosis, which can be caused by several diseases that affect the liver.
7. Coffee Can Fight Depression and Make You Happier
Depression is a serious mental disorder that causes a significantly reduced quality of life. Coffee appears to lower the risk of developing depression and may dramatically reduce the risk of suicide.
8. Coffee May Help You Live Longer
Given that coffee drinkers are less likely to get many diseases, it makes sense that coffee could help you live longer. There are actually several observational studies showing that coffee drinkers have a lower risk of death.
9. Coffee is The Biggest Source of Antioxidants
Coffee may actually be the healthiest aspect of the diet. That’s because coffee contains a massive amount of antioxidants. In fact, studies show that most people get more antioxidants from coffee than both fruits and vegetables combined.
Coffee is one of the healthiest beverages on the planet, and now that you know, you have many reasons to drink another cup of coffee, so enjoy it. Period.