5 Surprising Health Benefits of Coffee
Why should you drink coffee? Coffee is rich in antioxidants and nutrients that can improve your health. Here’s the top five health benefits of coffee.
Coffee is a popular morning drink for millions of people worldwide because it can provide energy. Most people don’t think too much about the contents of their coffee, instead downing a cup (or five) to give them a short-term boost in energy. For a lot of people who work hard and don’t get enough sleep, that energy is all they care about. The caffeine in coffee can provide numerous other benefits, however, as can many of the vitamins and minerals in the drink.
Reduces Cancer Risks
One of the most overlooked positives that can come from frequent coffee drinking is a decrease in the chances of developing cancer. Coffee drinkers actually have a lower chance of getting numerous types of cancers, including a 50% less chance of developing liver cancer. The odds of getting colon, breast, and rectal cancers decline as well.
It is important to realize that many of the benefits of coffee come from the caffeine in it. This means decaffeinated versions of coffee do not provide the same benefits, and the reduced cancer risk is one of them. To enhance your chances of staying cancer-free as much as possible, go with the caffeine.
Prevents Diabetes
Heavy coffee drinks have a far smaller chance of developing type 2 diabetes as compared to light or non-drinkers. For both men and women, the chances of getting type 2 diabetes decrease by 35% if they drink more than a couple cups of coffee a day. One large reason for the decrease in diabetes among coffee drinkers is the magnesium and chromium in the drink. These minerals help use up the body’s insulin, the substance that controls blood sugar. People with diabetes lose their ability to utilize their insulin.
Another big reason for the drop in both diabetes and cancer rates among coffee drinkers is the presence of antioxidants in the drink. Antioxidants eliminate free radicals in the body, ultimately preventing the formation of a number of diseases.
Be careful, however. We all know too much caffeine can make you anxious, so be sure not to go overboard on the coffee.
Counters Heart Disease and Stroke Risks
Coffee drinkers are less likely than non-drinkers to develop heart disease, and one of the reasons is type 2 diabetes leads to heart disease. With less of a chance of getting diabetes comes a reduced risk of heart disease.
Another reason coffee lowers the risks of heart disease and stroke is it decreases the occurrence of heart rhythm disturbances. Those who drink 1-3 cups of coffee per day are 20% less likely to experience these disturbances.
Lowers Risk of Alzheimer’s
Coffee drinkers are far less likely to develop Alzheimer’s than non-drinkers. Actually, coffee drinkers are more than 65% less likely to get the disease than those who abstain from the drink. The effect is the same in both men and women.
Burning Calories
Finally, coffee can be a major tool in your fat-burning efforts. Bodybuilders have long used coffee to help them burn fat, and the drink can have huge impacts on the look of your body. The reason is twofold. First, the components of coffee actually speed up the fat-burning process, alerting the body to use fat as fuel rather than muscle.
Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, coffee suppresses appetite. Those who drink a lot of coffee have been shown to consume far fewer calories than non-drinkers. Fewer calories taken in can obviously lead to weight loss.
Of course, the thermogenic properties of coffee come from the caffeine in it. Thus, if you want to burn fat and get shredded, a decaffeinated version of the drink won’t do you much good.