Coffee

Coffee (1)

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world. It is loaded with powerful antioxidants and beneficial nutrients. Various studies have linked daily coffee intake with lower risk of several serious diseases. Let’s discuss the health benefits of coffee:

1. Coffee contains many essential nutrients. Nutrition in a single cup of coffee:

Vitamin B2	11% of RDI
Vitamin B5	6% of RDI
Vitamin B3	2% of RDI
Magnesium	2% of RDI
Potassium	3% of RDI

2. Coffee can increase your energy levels. Coffee contains caffeine, a stimulant commonly used as a psychoactive substance worldwide. Caffeine is absorbed in the bloodstream after drinking coffee, and then it travels to the brain. In the brain, it blocks adenosine which is an inhibitory neurotransmitter. Due to this the level of neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine increases, leading to increased firing of neurons (), (). Some controlled studies link coffee consumption with improved brain functions, including memory, mood, vigilance, energy levels, reaction times, and general mental functions.

3. Caffeine stimulates the breakdown of body fat. Caffeine also increases the level of adrenaline in the blood. This hormone prepares your body for intense physical exertion. Caffeine breaks down body fat into free fatty acids. According to studies, caffeine can improve physical performance by 11-12%. Taking a cup of coffee half an hour before going to the gym is beneficial.

4. Almost every fat burning supplement contains caffeine. It is one of the few natural substances proved to enhance fat burning. Some studies also report an increase of 3-11% in metabolic rate on consumption of caffeine.

5. Caffeine is shown to slightly raise blood pressure levels (3-4 mm/Hg), the level is very small but can create problems if you drink coffee regularly. However, at the same time, studies don’t support that coffee raises the risk of heart diseases. In fact, coffee drinking in women is linked to reduced risk of heart disease. There are evidences that coffee drinking reduces the risk of stroke.

6. Type 2 diabetes is a leading health problem worldwide. It is caused by insulin resistance and reduced insulin secretion. Some studies suggest that drinking coffee reduces the risk of type 2 diabete. In a study conducted on a large sample, a reduction of 7% was reported in the risk of type 2 diabetes.

7. Liver performs several essential functions in the body. Some common diseases affecting the liver are hepatitis, fatty liver diseases, and many more. These diseases can lead to cirrhosis, a condition in which the liver is largely replaced by scar tissue. Consumption of 4 or more cups of coffee per day reduces the risk of liver cirrhosis upto 80%.

8. Alzheimer’s is a very common age related neurodegenerative disease leading to dementia. There is no known cure for this. It usually affects people above 65 years. Regular exercise and proper intake of a balanced diet may help avoid these problems. Drinking coffee is incredibly helpful to reduce the risk of these problems. A decrease of 65% in the risk of Alzheimer’s disease is reported in coffee drinkers.

9. After Alzhemier’s, Parkinson’s is the second common neurodegenerative disease. It is caused by death of dopamine generating neurons in the brain. There is no cure for Parkinson's also. According to some studies, drinking coffee can lower the risk of Parkinson’s disease upto 32-60%.

10. Consumption of 4 or more cups of coffee per day is linked with a reduction of 20% in depression.

11. Cancer is characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in the body. Coffee is believed to protect against liver and colorectal cancer. Coffee drinking is linked with a decrease in risk of liver cancer up to 40%.

12. Coffee can help you live longer. Studies report that coffee drinking can reduce the risk of death. Drinking coffee was associated with 20% reduced risk of death in men and 26% reduced risk of death in women over 18-24 years.

13. Most importantly, coffee is the biggest source of antioxidants in the western diet. Studies suggest that people get more antioxidant than fruits and vegetables combined.