So I'd like to start by saying that I love coffee, yes, I consider myself a coffee connoisseur. Coffee has alot of health benefits, as well.
First off, it is loaded with antioxidants and beneficial nutrients that can dramatically improve your health. Studies show that coffee drinkers have a lower risk of several serious diseases. Here are the some of the top health benefits of coffee, that have been confirmed in actual human studies.
1. Coffee Can Improve Energy Levels and Make You Smarter
So as most of us know, consuming coffee can help us feel less tired and increase our overall energy levels. So what is it about coffee that gives us that jolt? Well, it contains a stimulant called caffeine. Coffee is consumed worldwide in just about every country, in fact, it the most commonly consumed psychoactive substance in the world. So how does caffeine work? Well, caffeine enters our body and is absorbed into the bloodstream and makes its way to the brain. Once in the brain, caffeine blocks an inhibitory neurotransmitter called Adenosine. When that happens, the amount of other neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and dopamine actually increases, leading to enhanced firing of neurons. There have been various studies that prove coffee improves various aspects of brain function. This includes memory, mood, vigilance, energy levels, reaction times and general cognitive function.
2. Coffee and Diabetes
Yes, that's right, coffee may help protect against type 2 diabetes. Researchers at UCLA identified that consuming coffee increases plasma levels of the protein sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). SHBG controls the biological activity of the body's sex hormones (testosterone and estrogen) which play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes. Dr. Simin Liu, one of the authors of the study, said that an "inverse association" exists between coffee consumption and risk for type 2 diabetes.
3. Coffee And Parkinson's
So when it comes to Parkinson's Disease it's the caffeine in coffee that may help control movement in people suffering from this disease, according to a study conducted at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI MUHC) that was published in the journal Neurology.
4. Coffee And Liver Cancer
Liver cancer could be lowered by as much as 40% by consuming coffee, according to Italian researchers. In addition, some of the results suggest that if you drink three cups a day, the risks are reduced by more than 50%.
5. Coffee And Heart Health
The good researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and Harvard School of Public Health, concluded that drinking coffee in moderation protects against heart failure.
They defined 'in moderation' as 2 European cups (equivalent to two 8-ounce American servings) per day.
People who drank four European cups on a daily basis had an 11% lower risk of heart failure, compared to those who did not.
SOME OTHER KEY BENEFITS
Studies have suggested that coffee may:
help prevent premature death
reduce mortality
protect against cirrhosis
reduce the risk ofmultiple sclerosis
protect against colorectal cancer
So next time you make yourself a cup of joe, just remember your actually doing your body and brain alot of good.