While countless people all over the world enjoy a cup of coffee to get a jump start on the morning or refresh their energy levels during the afternoon, not everyone is aware of coffee’s health benefits.
For many coffee enthusiasts, the energy boost and the delicious flavor are enough to warrant whichever cup of coffee they’re currently on. However, the benefits of coffee consumption go deeper than immediate enjoyment to enhance multiple biological processes. Today, we’ll be taking a look at 5 health benefits that coffee offers alongside its more well-known perks.
1. Coffee can boost metabolism and assist with weight loss
Many people are unaware that the caffeine found in coffee can increase your metabolism, which increases your chances to achieve your weight loss goals. Several studies have consistently found that coffee intake can increase your metabolic rate from 3-11%. The physiological benefits of a metabolism boost can extend to cognitive function as well, making it a fine idea to reach for that extra office coffee during the workday.
Regular coffee consumption has been found to directly enhance your body’s fat burning processes, meaning that you might see greater results for your weight loss efforts. Caffeine stimulates your nervous system, which in turn signals your body to break down stored fat cells. Additionally, it increases the epinephrine levels in your bloodstream in order to boost physical performance during periods of exertion.
As if these benefits weren’t enough, coffee can reduce soreness in addition to giving you that energy boost at the gym. Only two cups of coffee can decrease post-workout muscle pain by nearly half!
2. Coffee can decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes
People who consume several cups of coffee daily have frequently been found to display a significantly lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Coffee contains the bioactive compound cafestol, which proved to increase insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity in lab mice.
In addition to boosting the body’s insulin production, coffee consumption has been shown to increase the plasma levels of the protein sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). SHBG controls the body’s activities of estrogen and testosterone, which both play a part in the development of type 2 diabetes.
3. Coffee can even reduce the risk of depression
While just about anyone can vouch for the ability of coffee to boost their mood, not everyone is aware that coffee can reduce the risk and symptoms of depression. You’ve probably heard all about antioxidants in the context of cancer prevention and inflammation reduction, and these benefits are already enough to justify another cup of Joe.
However, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of coffee can serve to reduce the inflammation in the brain that has been connected with higher instances of depression. While studies are still being conducted, the caffeine from coffee is believed to potentially boost the effectiveness of dopamine as well.
4. Coffee appears to guard against Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s
As if the short-term benefits of drinking coffee weren’t enough, the consumption of coffee can also help to safeguard you against diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s that can develop during your golden years. Interestingly, the same benefits were found in both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, meaning that these health perks come from the bean itself rather than just the caffeine.
The unique blend of antioxidant compounds found in coffee, which include chlorogenic acid, trigonelline, tannic acid, and pyrogallic acid, serve to reduce inflammation in the brain as it ages. Antioxidants can help to slow aging and work against cognitive deterioration, meaning that the perks of drinking coffee can also prevent the onset of dementia.
5. Coffee is good for your cardiovascular health
Caffeinated coffee is a common choice for a pick-me-up, partially because the stimulant properties serve to amp up your heart rate. As a result, drinking coffee can strengthen cardiovascular function and improve the health of your heart over time.
The caffeine in coffee has been found to enhance the functions of the p27 protein, which is integral in the repair and rejuvenation of heart tissues. Studies conducted with mice showed that caffeine boosted p27 function enough to significantly improve recovery following heart attack and other cardiovascular ailments. Evidence suggests that four cups of coffee daily is the optimal amount of consumption in order for humans to improve their heart health as well.
Coffee is already beloved and enjoyed by people all around the world for its bold flavor and stimulant properties. However, alongside the enjoyment that coffee presents, it also offers an array of health benefits. These benefits include a metabolism boost and the reduction of post-workout soreness, as well as enhanced heart health and repair functions.
Alongside boosting several positive bodily functions, coffee intake can also help prevent a number of negative long-term health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease. The next time you’re considering another cup of coffee, do so confidently as you remember the good that it can do for your body!
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Author, Freelance writer