There are few things I enjoy more than spending a morning sitting in a cosy coffee shop with my favourite cappuccino watching the world go by.
Taking in the sound of grinding coffee beans, the hiss of steam, the clink of mugs on saucers, the gentle buzz of a dozen conversations and the wonderful aroma of fresh coffee in the air.
And that morning coffee might not be a bad thing, as coffee possesses a variety of benefits, giving you plenty of reasons to drink it. It's cheap, widely available and tastes good. And if that's not enough, after reading this, you will want to make coffee a part of your daily ritual too. And do so guilt-free.
Coffee Can Reduce Pain
If you work out often, coffee can do wonders to reduce pain afterwards. In fact, a study published in The Journal Of Pain (Maridakis et al, March 2007) found that up to a 48% reduction of pain could be expected. This is significant as it speeds up recovery and will allow you to train sooner once again.
Coffee Can Help You To Burn Fat
There is a reason that almost every single weight loss supplement on the market contains caffeine. And that's because it has been shown to boost fat oxidation by as much as 29% (particularly in lean people). This is in conjunction with a general metabolic rise between 3-11%, which is significant when trying to lose weight.
There’s just one drawback. The effects may diminish over time as tolerance to caffeine occurs. If weight loss is your primary goal, you should restrict coffee intake to just before workouts for optimum effect.
Drinking Coffee May Prevent Development Of Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes is a serious global health concern currently that affects more than 300 million people, and that number is only set to increase. Although the exact mechanism behind coffee’s actions on preventing diabetes is unclear, a review of several studies demonstrated that, on average, it reduced the risk by up to 50%. That indicates a significant change.
One of these reviews was published in JAMA Internal Medicine, led by researcher Huxley et al, and it found that drinking coffee each day reduces the risk by at least 7%.
Coffee Consumption May Reduce Incidence Of Neurodegenerative Disorders
Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease fall into this category; being two diseases that are incurable and get progressively worse over time. Though the normal prescription of a healthy diet and exercise is always advised, caffeine may also prevent the development of these conditions, up to 60%, according to a study published in the European Journal Of Neurology (Maia et al. 2012).
Coffee May Reduce The Risk Of Developing Certain Cancers
Coffee may reduce the risk of liver and colorectal cancers in persons who consume 4 or more cups of coffee daily, lowering risks by up to 40% and 15% respectively.
Coffee Can Protect Your Liver
Coffee can help keep your liver functioning optimally, being able to prevent the likelihood of cirrhosis. Drinking four or more cups per day can reduce the risk of cirrhosis by up to 80%.
Coffee Is Rich In Anti-Oxidants
This may come as a surprise to many, but coffee is, in fact, the primary source of antioxidants in the Western diet, surpassing that received from daily consumption of fruits and veggies combined. This alone is an excellent reason to drink coffee on a daily or near-daily basis.
Coffee May Prolong Life
Coffee can reduce the risk of several diseases, and observed over an 18-24 year period reduced relative mortality rates in men and women by 20% and 26% respectively. These effects are especially pronounced in diabetics.
Coffee May Reduce The Risk Of Depression
A study conducted By Harvard University in 2011 (Lucas et al.) found that women who consumed 4 or more cups of coffee every day had a 20% reduced risk of developing depression, and a 53% decrease in suicide rates.
Coffee May Reduce Stroke Risk
Though coffee may transiently increase blood pressure, it does not negatively affect heart health. Blood pressure normally returns to baseline after a few days, but along with this is a slightly reduced incidence of stroke.
The millions of people who love and drink coffee every day can rejoice, as not only do they get to drink their favourite brew, they also gain a mountain of great benefits. Keep in mind that coffee has no calories, but overdoing it on the sugar and creamer or choosing high-calorie coffee drinks like Frappuccinos, can quickly turn a good thing bad.
