If you love coffee as much as me, you need to know that it has tremendous health benefits. Sure, if you drink it all day long, it can be kind of counterintuitive but the reality is that it can really be a great addition to an already healthy lifestyle. We are not alone in our love affair with coffee. In fact, it is estimated that over 54% of all Americans drink coffee daily.
Of course, it is always important to choose high-quality, organic coffee. Here are the top 7 reasons why coffee great for your health. If you aren’t a coffee drinker now, you may just become one after reading this.
Coffee is loaded with antioxidants: That’s right! Coffee has more antioxidants than fruits and vegetables. A 2005 study found that nothing compares to coffee for antioxidant power. Apparently, the body can absorb the antioxidants found in coffee better than those found anywhere else.
Coffee is amazing for your liver: This is especially true if you enjoy a few alcoholic beverages from time to time. A study published in 2006 found that people over 22 years of age who drank at least one cup of coffee per day were 20% less likely to develop cirrhosis of the liver. Study leader Arthur L Klatsky says this, “Consuming coffee seems to have some protective benefits against alcoholic cirrhosis, and the more coffee a person consumes the less risk they seem to have of being hospitalized or dying of alcoholic cirrhosis.”
Coffee makes you happy: Want to be happier? Research from the National Institute of Health found that those who drank four or more cups of coffee daily were 10% less likely to be depressed than those who don’t drink coffee. Apparently, this happy boost does not come from what is known as a “caffeine high” either. Drinking Coke can give you this same high but it is linked to depression. Study leader Honglei Chen, MD, Ph.D., says this “the proposed reason coffee makes you feel good is because of those trusty antioxidants.”
Coffee reduces the risk of Type 2 diabetes: Wow, this is great news with the numbers of people being diagnosed with this condition is rising drastically in the United States. A study conducted by the American Chemical Society found that people who drink four or more cups of coffee a day reduce their chances of developing Type 2 diabetes by 50%. This risk is lowered by 7% with each additional cup.
Drinking coffee is good for your brain: I like this one for sure. Researchers from the University of South Florida and the University of Miami found that people older than 65 who have higher levels of caffeine in their blood developed Alzheimer’s disease two to four years earlier than those who had lower levels of caffeine in their blood. According to the study leaders, “Moderate coffee consumption will not completely protect people from Alzheimer’s disease. However, we firmly believe that moderate coffee consumption can appreciably reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s or delay its onset.”
Coffee can increase your athletic performance: Drinking a cup of coffee before participating in athletic activities, especially endurance activities like running and cycling, can give you an edge. Research has found that coffee increases the number of fatty acids in the bloodstream. These can be used for immediate energy while saving carbohydrate stores for later.
Coffee helps you de-stress: I don’t even have to drink coffee to relax as long as I can smell it. There is just something so soothing about the aroma of a cup of coffee. There is scientific proof to this fact as well. Researchers have found that when people who suffer from sleep deprivation were exposed to the aroma of coffee, they experienced changes in the brain proteins linked to stress. Although this study is linked to coffee and stress associated with sleep deprivation – I always feel more relaxed with a cup of coffee in my hand, how about you?
Anyone ready for a cup? Make sure you are always chooosing a high-quality organic brand.
-Susan Patterson