Coffee has become an inseparable part of our lives. But is it a wise decision?
A growing body of research shows that coffee drinkers, compared to nondrinkers, are less prone to certain cancers, heart problems, type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s Disease and Dementia.
While there’s a widespread belief in its health benefits, coffee isn’t proven to prevent those conditions. There isn’t solid proof for the benefits of regular caffeine intake, hence researchers don’t advise on whether to have it at all or not, but they do take an interest in individual coffee habits and the consequent effects such as a better diet and mental capacity or sleep problems. There are cases of both potential health perks and a few cautions.
1. Improves energy levels and making one smarter and more alert
Coffee can help people feel less tired and increase energy levels. The psychoactive stimulant called caffeine once absorbed into your bloodstream, travels to your brain. There it blocks the inhibitory neurotransmitter adenosine. This results in an increase in the amount of other neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and dopamine, leading to enhanced firing of neurons. This directly leads to improved brain functioning, which manifests itself in memory, mood, vigilance, energy levels, reflexes and general thinking and multitasking capacity. Caffeine blocks an inhibitory neurotransmitter in your brain, which causes a stimulant effect. This improves energy levels, moods, and various aspects of brain function.
2. Increased Fat Metabolism
In almost every form caffeine acts as an excellent fat burning supplement. It’s probably one of the few natural substances that can boost one’s metabolism rate by 3-11%.
3. Boosts Physical Ability
While it is mentally stimulating, caffeine also spikes the adrenaline levels (epinephrine) in the blood. This fight or flight hormone prepares the body for physical exertion.
As previously mentioned, the coffee aids the breakdown of body fat allowing fatty acids to be treated as fuel. This instantly results in an improved physical performance, almost by 15-20%. A lot of people prefer having a cup of strong coffee before a workout.
4. Provides Other Nutrients
Coffee Beans while being rich in caffeine also contain essential nutrients like Manganese, Magnesium, Pantothenic Acid, Niacin, Potassium, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B5 in small percentages of the Reference Daily Intake. Having multiple cups of coffee allows the amounts to add up significantly.
5. Reduced Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes
A massive health problem, Type 2 Diabetes is currently affecting millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by elevated blood sugar levels caused by insulin resistance or a reduced ability to secrete insulin. Coffee drinkers are proven to have a significantly lesser chance of suffering from type 2 diabetes. Studies observe that people who drink the most coffee have a 23–50% lower risk of getting this disease.
6. Protection from Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
Alzheimer’s is a disease common amongst people over 65. A neurodegenerative disease, it is the leading cause of dementia worldwide and a cure is yet to be found. In addition to eating healthy and exercising, there are several steps that can be taken to prevent the onset of disease. Drinking coffee has known to be incredibly effective, almost upto 65% in preventing the disease.
7. Reduced Risk of Parkinson’s
The condition of the death of dopamine generating neurons in the brain is known as Parkinson’s disease, the second most common neurodegenerative condition, right behind Alzheimer’s. Much like Alzheimer’s, there is no known cure, which makes precaution even more important. Drinking coffee allows a risk reduction range from 32–60%In this case. The benefit is actually attributed to caffeine itself and this risk prevention does not apply to decaffeinated drinks.
8. Liver Protection
An amazing organ that carries out hundreds of important functions, the liver is prone to several diseases including hepatitis, fatty liver disease, and many others. Almost all of these diseases lead to a condition where the liver is largely replaced by scar tissue- it’s known as Cirrhosis. Interestingly, coffee may protect against cirrhosis — people who drink 4 or more cups a day have up to a considerably lower risk.
9. Mood Elevation
Depression is a serious mental disorder that causes a significantly reduced quality of life. Four or more cups of coffee a day reduces the tendency for depression by almost 12%. This in turn arrests suicide rates and also delinquent behaviour.
10. May Lower Risk of Certain Types of Cancer And Heart Conditions
Uncontrolled cell growth in your body which is commonly known as cancer, is the biggest cause of deaths in our country. Coffee appears to be effective in cases of two types of cancer: liver and colorectal cancer. Liver cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in the world, while colorectal cancer ranks fourth.Studies show that coffee drinkers have up to a 40% lower risk of liver cancer including a lowered risk of suffering a heart stroke.
11. May Help You Live Longer
Given that coffee drinkers are less likely to get many diseases, it makes sense that it could increase longevity. Several studies show that coffee drinkers live longer and have a lower risk of premature death.
12. An indispensable source of antioxidants
For people who eat a standard Western diet, coffee may be one of the healthiest components. That’s because coffee is quite high in antioxidants. Studies show that many people get a higher amount of antioxidants from coffee than from fruits and vegetables combined. Coffee might just be one of the healthiest beverages on the planet.
In conclusion
Coffee is a highly popular beverage around the globe that boasts of a number of impressive health benefits. Right from an energy booster, to helping burn fat and improving physical performance, it also lowers the risk of several conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, cancer, alzheimer’s and parkinson’s disease. In fact, coffee may even boost longevity. If you enjoy its taste and tolerate its caffeine content, don’t hesitate to pour yourself a cup or more throughout the day.
