You wake up one day and as you scroll through your newsfeed, you see an article pop up saying coffee is bad for you, you need to stop drinking it and you are drinking too much.
Two weeks later, your feed says how coffee will make you live longer and that you need to be drinking more of it, and to go ahead and enjoy your morning cup of Joe.
You’re forgiven if you have no idea whether it’s good or bad, you should have it or you shouldn’t and if you feel a little bit of uncertainty around it ever time you pour yourself a cup.
- Studies show that regular coffee drinkers live longer. This is one of the most recent studies to be published, showing that subjects who drank coffee every day - up to 4 cups per day - lived longer. This is on the back of coffee’s health benefits, such as the antioxidants it provides, as well as its ability to reduce inflammation, and also based on the fact that coffee lowers your risk of diabetes, liver and cancer, hence reducing your risk of dying from these diseases.
- Reduced risk of diabetes – There are two compounds in coffee, which researchers have found to help lower the risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes. These compounds are found in both caffeinated and decaf coffee and work by increasing insulin secretion, as well as increasing blood sugar intake by the cells. When an individual suffers from Type 2 Diabetes, the cells have become de-sensitized to insulin and it is no longer working to lower blood sugar levels. Increasing insulin secretion and promoting better uptake of sugar by the cells are both good ways to help combat said disease, or reduce the risk of further development.
- The impact coffee can have on reducing the development of Alzheimer’s is also an area of increasing research amongst scientists. Researchers have found that the anti-inflammatory properties of coffee can block inflammation within the brain. Inflammation at certain receptors starts a chain reaction, which typically culminates in cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s. Likewise, blocking off inflammation of these receptors, reduces build up of proteins and especially those that cause Alzheimer’s.
- If you’re an athlete, you may be pretty attavhed to your coffee for its stimulating effects. It’s true that caffeiene is a natural stimulant and offers a boost of energy to the brain and body. This can be used beneficially when it comes to long distance running or sports requiring extended periods of exertion. If you want to get the most benefit from it as a stimulant, stop drinking coffee in the 2-3 weeks prior to your race or sporting event and your body will be even more sensitized to it when you enjoy it on the big day. As runners, it is a natural way to get things moving pre-run, and evidence abounds for its safety and effectiveness as a pre-race stimulant.
- It has no calories, but coffee does have nutritional benefits, provided you are enjoying it from quality beans which are fresh and minimally processed. These beans have high levels of antioxidants, beneficial for reducing your accumulation of free radicals and reducing your risk of cancer. The popular beverage also contains B vitamins, critical in helping your body produce energy and in fighting stress, as well as Magnesium, the stress mineral and an important electrolyte, which helps reduce muscle cramping. There is also potassium and manganese. The common thread? All of these nutrients play some role in influencing our energy levels, and when combined with the coffee’s natural stimulant (caffeine), you are in for one big energy boost!
If that didn't convince you and you're in need of some coffee alternatives, check out 5 Healthy Alternatives to Coffee.
By: Laura Peill – (Check out her blog Viand Nutrition & Facebook)
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