Coffee: it’s delicious, it perks you up, and… it’s good for you?
As it turns out, your morning (or mid-afternoon) caffeine pick-me-up may be doing more than giving your energy a boost.
For many years, we all thought coffee was bad for our health. That’s because past researchers linked coffee to a higher chance of developing all kinds of conditions, from asthma to heart disease. But the studies that were conducted in the ‘80s and ‘90s got it wrong–or at least not entirely right.
Those early coffee studies did follow people who drank coffee, but they also did other things, like smoking cigarettes. Without accounting for those outside factors (aka “confounders”) that can skew results, the researchers incorrectly labeled coffee as a risky, dangerous beverage.
Of course, it didn’t stop any of us from drinking coffee. We’d rather live dangerously than live without that precious caffeinated nectar.
Today, those claims about coffee’s adverse effects have largely been debunked by more recent studies. With more advanced sampling and statistical methods–and accounting for those pesky confounders–researchers have changed their minds about coffee.
Now we know that this deliciously fragrant caffeine boost isn’t actually dangerous: it actually boasts some health benefits.
Of course, caffeine is usually the first thing that comes to mind when we think about our cup of joe. However, coffee also contains antioxidants and other active substances that can boost your health. So, let’s talk about some of the top ways your cup of coffee is positively impacting your health!
The key, as with anything, is moderation. Perhaps that tenth cup of coffee isn’t the best idea, antioxidants or not.
If you’re already a coffee drinker, but maybe looking to reap some more benefits, check out our black coffee drinking challenge.
@heypumpkindaily Black coffee challenge: DAY 1 ##coffee ##blackcoffee ##morningroutine ##fypシ
♬ Will to Live – Jacob Yoffee
Essential Nutrients
We already know that coffee contains caffeine, which can be beneficial (more about that in a minute). But did you know that coffee beans contain other essential nutrients? These nutrients also make their way into your brewed coffee.
- Riboflavin (vitamin B2)
- Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5)
- Manganese
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Niacin (vitamin B3)
Lowering Your Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Studies show that coffee drinkers have a significantly reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. Some researchers theorize that it can help your body process glucose better, but the jury is still out on that one. Even still, people who drink coffee have a 23 to 50 percent lower risk of getting the disease.
Brain Booster
When you drink coffee, all that caffeine goes to your head — literally. Caffeine blocks the neurotransmitter adenosine, which leads to norepinephrine and dopamine increasing. That’s a very scientific way of saying that caffeine causes a feel-good stimulant effect in your brain. It improves brain function, including memory, mood, vigilance, reaction times, and overall mental function.
Preventing Neurodegenerative Conditions
Coffee may help prevent neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Several studies have shown that coffee drinkers have 32 to 60 percent lower risk of Parkinson’s, while studies also show that coffee drinkers have up to a 65 percent lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The caffeine is also linked to helping those with Parkinson’s better control their movements.
Protecting Your Liver
Your liver carries out tons of important functions, so why not drink a cup of coffee to help protect it? Coffee seems to have a protective effect on the vital organ. Research shows coffee drinkers are more likely to have liver enzyme levels within a healthy range than people who don’t drink coffee. And good news: this applies to both regular and decaf.
Lowering Your Risk of Certain Cancers
While it’s protecting your liver, it may also be preventing liver cancer. Studies show that coffee drinkers have up to 40 percent lower risk of liver cancer. Coffee can also help reduce the odds of getting colon cancer, too. Researchers found that coffee drinkers are also 26 percent less likely to develop colorectal cancer.
Heart Healthy
Although those old studies pointed at coffee as a cause of heart disease, we now know it doesn’t. Newer research shows that it does not raise your risk–and, in fact, may reduce it. Some evidence points to coffee as reducing the risk of heart disease, warding off heart failure, and lowering the risk of stroke by up to 20 percent.
Loaded With Antioxidants
Antioxidants are important because they fight free radicals, which can do plenty of damage to your body. Did you know that coffee is rich in several powerful antioxidants, including hydrocinnamic acids and polyphenols?
While coffee doesn’t contain the most antioxidants than other foods out there, it is one of the biggest dietary sources of antioxidants in the Western diet. In fact, studies show that many people get more antioxidants from their coffee habit than they do from eating fruits and vegetables combined.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go drink another cup of coffee… It’s for my health.
