In terms of popular drinks, you’ll be hard-pressed to find anyone who doesn’t enjoy a good cup of coffee. Coffee can be the spark to starting off a great day, or can be used when hanging out with friends and family.
The consumption of coffee has been proven to do wonders for our overall health. Many studies confirm that the effects are largely positive. The health benefits of coffee consumption include lowering the risk of several illnesses or diseases.
Your morning ritual may come with more benefits than you think! Next time you visit the local coffee shop, you may enjoy these seven health benefits of coffee consumption:
Benefit #1: Coffee improves your energy
The best known health benefit of coffee is its positive correlation towards our energy levels. Whenever we feel lethargic, or feel the onset of a mid-afternoon crash, a coffee pick-me-up is usually required. This is because coffee is universally known as a means to increase energy, and make you less sluggish. Caffeine, the predominant stimulant found in coffee, gets absorbed into your bloodstream and begins to take effect.
Once caffeine has permeated the bloodstream, it travels to your brain. From there, the stimulant encourages the development of other neurotransmitters to take precedence. This finally leads to improved brain function, and will allow you to feel more energized as a result.
Benefit #2: Coffee is a fat burner
Fat burning is probably among the best health benefits of coffee consumption. You can see it as a main ingredient in various supplements found in health and fitness stores. This is because it’s regarded as a natural substance, as opposed to other artificial means of burning fat.
When consumed in an appropriate amount, coffee is known to enhance the body’s natural metabolic rate. This is important if burning fat is high on your health and fitness goals. Just like the advantage of increasing energy, coffee is a great means to be used in getting rid of those pesky areas of fat on your body.
Benefit #3: Coffee stimulates workout recovery
Athletes may opt to consume a cup of coffee prior to their workout, as it is a great way to quickly boost energy levels. However, drinking coffee after a workout can also be beneficial to our workout recovery process. Studies have stated that a post-workout cup of coffee can substantially reduce muscle pain and soreness. Forget the foam roller for now and drink up!
Benefit #4: Coffee reduces the risk of cancer
Cancer is regarded as one of the world’s leading causes of death. The onset of cancerous symptoms can prop up in varying scales, depending on the person, and the risk of it developing further can exacerbate. Fortunately, there are many methods that can be used in order to reduce the risk of cancer from growing.
The caffeine present in coffee has been shown to be a great way in reducing that risk of cancerous cells from emerging. The surfacing of liver cancer symptoms, for example, can be reduced significantly if coffee is consumed on a daily basis. Other symptoms from other forms of cancer, such as colorectal, can also be reduced with regular coffee consumption.
Benefit #5: Coffee is a great source of antioxidants
Yogurt doesn’t have to be the only option for getting your daily source of antioxidants. Coffee is an extremely healthy choice if you are looking for a high source of antioxidants. Studies have shown that coffee, as an isolated source, can provide more antioxidant properties than fruits or vegetables.
In addition, scientists have noted that more than one thousand antioxidants develop during the roasting process. This helps in areas such as fighting inflammation, while keeping our cells protected from damage. As a primary component of many western diets, coffee can help keep you healthy at a microscopic level, without you realizing it.
Benefit #6: Coffee reduces the development of diabetes
Like the advantage of preventing cancer, coffee is also an excellent way to reduce the risk of developing diabetes. Research has proven that factors contributing to the advancement of Type 2 diabetes can be significantly reduced by drinking coffee on a consistent basis. This is due to the properties inside coffee being used to protect our insulin.
With proper regulation of insulin, and the associating blood sugar, the risk of Type 2 diabetes can be substantially reduced. Some scientists have even noted that decaffeinated coffee may be more beneficial than regular coffee, in regards to reducing symptoms attributed to diabetes. Whatever your choice, you can rest assured that you are well protected!
Benefit #7: Coffee can alleviate depression
With caffeine being a direct influence on our brain’s neurotransmitters, there are also mental health benefits of coffee consumption. For those who suffer from depression, it can be considered as a great way to reduce the symptoms of the illness. The active stimulant in coffee can help in affecting areas such as mood, which can significantly reduce the onset of depression in general.
Don’t let the studies negatively touting coffee consumption deter you from drinking your daily pick-me-up. The health benefits have scientifically been proven, and are wide-ranging In general. So, you’ll never feel bad about picking up your daily dark roast at Starbucks again!
