Remember when coffee was thought to be bad for you? Well, not anymore.
Nutritionists and medical researchers alike now include coffee among other superfoods, like broccoli and blueberries, thanks to its many health benefits.
More about those benefits in a minute. But first, what makes coffee such a healthy beverage?
Coffee owes its health benefits to the coffee bean. And it’s the coffee bean’s dark color that hints at its nutritional benefits. Darker foods (like broccoli and blueberries) tend to be more nutritionally dense than foods that are lighter in color.
Coffee beans are also rich in flavonoids and antioxidants. They contain vitamins B2, B3, and B5, as well as important minerals like magnesium, manganese, and potassium. And the caffeine in regular coffee helps your body to convert fat into energy, while simultaneously improving insulin sensitivity.
In fact, studies have tied drinking 2-4 cups of coffee per day to longer lifespans.
The list of health benefits associated with coffee is long. Read on to learn more.
Coffee Improves Your Mood
Anyone who knows a coffee drinker knows they’re a lot more pleasant after that first cup of coffee in the morning. There’s a reason for that. Coffee boosts the production of serotonin, an important neurotransmitter that helps to elevate mood.
Coffee Supports Cardiovascular Health
Doctors used to think the caffeine in coffee was bad for your heart. But more recent research links 3-5 cups of coffee per day to a reduced risk of stroke and heart disease in otherwise healthy adults.
Coffee Gives You More Energy
It’s true. The caffeine in coffee boosts your energy. Here’s why…
Caffeine blocks the receptors for adenosine (an inhibitory neurotransmitter that promotes sleep and suppresses arousal). Blocking adenosine allows energy-boosting neurotransmitters like dopamine to have more influence.
Coffee Promotes a Healthy Weight
Coffee consumption is related to lower body fat in both men and women. This is because caffeine enhances fat-burning and reduces insulin resistance. It also promotes a healthy gut biome, which supports weight management through better digestive health.
Coffee Reduces Your Risk for Type 2 Diabetes
Coffee helps to preserve the beta cells in your pancreas that produce the insulin that regulates your blood sugar. And as noted above, coffee promotes insulin sensitivity.
Coffee May Help to Prevent Degenerative Neurological Conditions
People who consume coffee every day are statistically less likely to develop Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, dementia, and other age-related neurological disorders. And they are generally less likely to suffer from cognitive decline as they get older.
Coffee Supports a Healthy Liver
Liver health is critical to your overall health. Drinking at least two cups of coffee daily reduces the risk for liver scarring, chronic liver disease, and liver cancer.
And these effects increase as you drink more coffee. One cup per day reduces the risk for developing chronic liver disease by 15%. But four cups per day reduces risk by a whopping 71%.
Coffee May Reduce Your Risk for Some Cancers
The antioxidants and flavonoids found in coffee are potent cancer fighters. As a result, moderate coffee consumption appears to protect against several types of cancer including liver cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer.
What You Need to Know
Here’s how you can maximize the health benefits from your daily cup (or cups) of coffee:
- As with most things, the key is moderation. Three to five cups of coffee per day is enough for healthy adults. There is some evidence that more than 6 cups per day can lead to negative results.
- If you need to cut down on caffeine for health reasons, decaf coffee provides most of the health benefits associated with regular coffee.
- Be careful about what you put into your coffee. Many creamers and sweeteners add extra calories and sugar.
- Don’t consume coffee too late in the day. Coffee is counterproductive if it interferes with your sleep.
When properly consumed, coffee can be part of your healthy diet. To learn more, call Renew Youth today at 800-859-7511 or use our convenient contact form to sign up for your free 30-minute consultation.