5 Surprising Health Benefits of Coffee Coffee: the most delicious part of the morning. Or afternoon. Or night. Whenever, right? If coffee is there, we're drinking it. Fellow java drinkers. we know coffee is life. Not only is coffee delicious, it can be had in many flavors, colors, and styles. Not only that, coffee has amazing health benefits! It's just another reason(or should I say excuse), to drink it. Coffee expert or not, this powerful beverage is for everyone, here are 5 reasons why:
1. Lowers Stress Levels If there's one thing we can all agree we want less of – especially in today's society, stress would be at the top of the list. Scientists have studied the effects of coffee on mice for years, and how it reacts to humans. Researchers found that the mice who drank coffee put them in a better mood. The coffee made them perform better on their memory tests compared to the mice who drank water only. The mice who drank only water performed worse and with less conviction. We can all relate to that! Coffee encourages norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter in the brain to help retrieve memory. Not only that, it works to relieve stress and the effects of stress. This is not to say that we should drop water out of our daily habits. Water is what we need to survive and you should still maintain a healthy balance of water versus coffee. It's important to drink smart!
2. It's Nutritious And we are not just saying that because we love it. Coffee is made from coffee beans, which is the foundation of what makes it healthy. And Like anything that's healthy for you, it contains a good number of vitamins and nutrients, just ask any health expert. According to Authority Nutrition, a single cup of coffee contains the following:
● Riboflavin (Vitamin B2): 11% of the RDA. ● Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5): 6% of the RDA. ● Manganese and Potassium: 3% of the RDA. ● Magnesium and Niacin (B3): 2% of the RDA.
3. Relieves Post-Workout Pain Yeah, that's right. Read it again if you don't believe it! The University of Georgia found that coffee helps to reduce muscle pain from working out...
up to 48%! This study was conducted on a group of women who were not regular coffee drinkers, but if you are amongst us who are, fret not! If you're a regular coffee drinker, you'd only need to consume a little extra than what your regular cup is for the day to experience the most benefit from it post workout. Make sure that you do this in moderation, and please don't do this every day. Do it only when pain relief is needed because over drinking coffee, or anything for that matter, is not healthy.
4. Lowers Risk of Type 2 Diabetes & Dementia Both Type 2 Diabetes and Dementia affects millions of people worldwide. Studies show that the risk of Type 2 Diabetes actually reduces by 23-50%, in some cases 67% for those tested who drank the most coffee. This could be due to its effect on natural glucose and insulin levels in the body. Accordingly, drinking coffee regularly will stimulate neurons in the brain, and improve memory, which can help those who suffer from dementia or are working to prevent it. As most nutritionists would suggest, it's best to drink coffee without added sugars, as consuming a large amount of sugar can reverse these benefits or negatively impact your blood sugar and more.
5. Great for Your Skin It may not be the first thing anyone thinks about when it comes to coffee, in fact, you may hear many negatives about coffee. The final truth is its advantages outweigh its disadvantages if consumed proportionately just like anything else you consume. It seems to be a trendy topic in the beauty department, but that’s for good reasons. If applied to the skin topically, coffee can work wonders! Not only does the texture work as a scrub if made at home with brown sugar and olive oil, it can be used for your body and scalp. Again, this comes down to the rich antioxidants and nutrients found in coffee, which is why it's so special. As a skin treatment coffee can do the following:
● Frees free-radicals from the skin ● Protects the skin from harmful UVA/UVB rays ● Enhances circulation underneath the skin ● Smooths the appearance of rough skin ● Brightens skin after careful exfoliation ● Reduces puffy eyes + more!
There is no disguising what makes coffee so great. It's a great drink to keep you moving throughout the day and keep you sharp! Just remember that additives, like processed sugars, can reduce the health benefits. If you're going to Starbucks, it's likely that you aren't getting the most healthy version of coffee. Keep track of what's in your coffee and remember to enjoy all the benefits! If you have any questions,
contact us!