The secret weapon in your morning cuppa

For most, the day hasn’t officially started without a cuppa. Many would even finish their day with coffee. Living in Moscow for 6 years, I can definitely see the obvious coffee obsession there. Able to tirelessly drink cups and cups a day, some Russians claim the secret to longevity could very well be due to the health benefits of coffee. Although this claim may be true, I suppose that would constitute a biased view from a coffee lover.

Modern day studies seem to be uncovering more and more evidence of the numerous health benefits of coffee, the elixir of productivity! Not to mention a new discovery in Diabetes research, caffeine would very well replace insulin pens in the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes. But we’ll get back to that a little later. Let’s start with the health benefits of coffee that come with consuming your morning cuppa.

Health Benefits of Coffee

#1 – Coffee Is a Fat Burner

Okay, okay by now you’re probably wondering if there’s anything solid behind this statement.  You see coffee is a psychoactive stimulant (stimulates the mind and behavior). No wonder you can find caffeine in most fat-burning products in the market these days.

When you’re trying to lose weight, the one thing you’d wanna have on your side is high metabolism.  A high metabolism equates to losing fat more easily. Studies show that caffeine can increase resting metabolic rate (RMR) by 3–11%, the larger the dose the greater the effect. Another study indicated caffeine’s role in also funneling free fatty acid into the bloodstream, thereby increasing the odds of conversion into energy.

#2 Coffee Gives You  Temporary Energy Boost

We all know this is true. That sudden clarity that washes over us. The productivity that ensues. Superhuman mental capacity comes alive. Coffee can dramatically improve not only your alertness, but also improve your mental performance. Additionally if consumed regularly, it is also able to improve physical endurance by 12%.

Coffee has the effect of simultaneously increasing energy metabolism in the brain while decreasing blood flow to it. Following the increased energy metabolism, one experiences a spike in norepinephrine release. This is a hormone responsible for alertness and arousal. You’d possibly hear of norepinephrine in its role in anxiety and the fight or flight response.

#3 Coffee Reduces The Risk Of Parkinson’s

Although scientists cannot quite pinpoint the mechanism behind the protective powers of coffee, they’re certain that it’s most likely due to caffeine and not some other component of coffee. One study reported a 58% reduction in both genders. Moreover a second study wherein its participants consume 5 or more cups of coffee a day, demonstrated the risk for developing Parkinson’s was reduced to about 61% in men, and 60% in women.

#4 – Coffee is packed with antioxidants

Inflammation seems to be the ”enemy” in almost every cause of disease. And the “friend”? – Antioxidants of course. It comes to no surprise that in many countries, the main source of dietary consumption of antioxidants does not come from the intake of vegetables and fruits, instead, its from coffee.

And as indicated in the diagram above, the level of antioxidants in coffee surpasses any other alternate source of antioxidants. This was found via a study that compared the antioxidant contribution of different sources, ie wine, grains, tea, fruit/vegetables. According to the findings, coffee contributes over 6x more antioxidants than any other dietary source.

#5 The secret to immortality?

So perhaps there is substance to what the Russians say on coffee being the secret to longevity. A study conducted by Havard’s School of Public Health found that drinking coffee reduces the overall risk of mortality. By drinking a cup a day,  mortality risk reduces by 6%, 3 cups by 8% and 5 cups a day could lower the overall mortality risk by a whopping 15%.

Coffee is also linked to lowering risks in liver disease (cirrhosis), certain types of cancer, dementia & Alzheimer’s, and depression. It’s good for your heart too as studies have been demonstrated that drinking three or four cups a day reduced risk by 19% from cardiovascular deaths.

Did I also mention coffee has protective effects over certain diseases? Well yes, studies show coffee’s efficacy in preventing diabetes and is even currently being used as an alternative mode of transport for insulin ( -goodbye insulin pens! ).  A study concluded that each additional cup of coffee contributed to a 7% reduced risk in Type 2 Diabetes.

Just how many cups of antioxidant-loaded coffee is optimal for my health?

Now that you’ve read through the health benefits of coffee, perhaps you won’t feel so guilty having that extra cup of coffee at the end of the day. But just how many cups of coffee is optimal? Some researchers recommend consuming  4-5 cuppas a day for optimal health benefits.

Remember, moderation is key, don’t overdo it.

Source:Pinterest.com

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Reference:

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-latest-scoop-on-the-health-benefits-of-coffee-2017092512429

https://www.rush.edu/health-wellness/discover-health/health-benefits-coffee

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/773949

https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/134/3/562/4688575

https://www.inc.com/business-insider/coffee-caffeine-heart-health-how-much-should-you-drink-healhty.html

Tags

• Alzheimer
• antioxidants
• coffee
• coffee facts
• coffee healthy
• cognition
• Diabetes
• energy
• metabolism
• parkinson's
• prevention