We often hear that drinking coffee is not good for our health. People say it is addictive (mind you, doctors have found that mild physical dependence can occur), it’s bad for your teeth and it can make you jittery.
For some, coffee is their ‘go to’ in the morning. They feel as if they cannot get through the day without it. It can be tempting to say that is a bad addiction, but we shouldn’t be too judgmental when it comes to coffee because there are some benefits to the drink and here are six you may not have heard of.
1. Help burn fat
If you take a look at what is in fat burning supplements you will see caffeine. Caffeine is one of the few natural substances that has been proven to help burn fat. Some studies have shown that caffeine can increase the burning of fat in lean people up to 29% and in obese people up to 10%. If you haven’t been able to lose unwanted fat for a couple of weeks, try adding in a few cups of coffee during the day.
2. Nutrients
When you look at a black cup of coffee you probably are not thinking about the nutrients it might contain. The coffee beans hold Vitamin B2, Vitamin B5, Potassium, and Niacin. When drinking multiple cups of coffee a day these nutrients quickly begin to add up. You might forget to get these nutrients in other sources of food during the day, but if you are a coffee drinker you are taken care of!
3. May Lower The Risk of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s
Parkinson’s is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, following Alzheimer’s. Unfortunately both diseases have no cure, which is why it is so important to focus on prevention. Coffee drinkers have about a 60% lower risk of getting Parkinson’s disease and a 65% lower risk of contracting Alzheimer’s; the effect is purely from the caffeine. With both diseases it is important firstly to eating healthy, and exercise, but incorporating coffee into your day can also be a plus.
4. Help Fight Depression
Unfortunately many people suffer from the serious mental illness of depression, causing them to have a reduced quality of life with their family and friends. Many people that do not suffer from depression don’t always get it, making it very hard to understand. In a Harvard study taken in 2011, women were shown to be at a 20% lower risk of becoming depressed when drinking 4 or more cups of coffee per day. If a regular cup of joe doesn’t cure your sadness then a fizzy coffee float definitely will.
5. Can Enhance Exercise Performance
Many fitness experts may tell you that caffeine is dehydrating and can negatively affect your workouts. Recent studies show that about five cups of coffee a day does not dehydrate you enough to interfere with your workout. Coffee can help you fight against fatigue, allowing you to exercise longer. It also helps strengthen muscle contraction, which lessens your perception of the pain you might be feeling. Lastly coffee increases the fatty acids in your blood, supporting endurance.
Bonus: Cardiovascular Protection
It is known to most of us that your cardiovascular system is a very important part of maintaining your health. Studies have shown that adding one or two cups of coffee into your day you can significantly reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease-related death. Now don’t get too excited and give up exercise for coffee. Although coffee benefits your health in this area it can not be a replacement for regular exercise. It is all about balance and consistency; make sure you drink your coffee as well as exercise regularly to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
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