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People widely regard coffee as something that “gets them going in the morning.” It’s one of life’s daily essentials for many workers, particularly those in high-stress jobs and under a lot of pressure. Coffee makes it easier to get through the day and give your work your all. 

However, it turns out that coffee has some rather unusual health benefits that you wouldn’t expect. It’s the perfect addition to your daily routine and something that can make a tremendous difference in your overall well-being.

Coffee’s most obvious benefit is that it increases alertness throughout the day. Even if you drink a coffee in the morning, the caffeine remains in your system for another 14 hours or so. 

It’s important to remember that coffee is a natural stimulant. That means it’s actually a part of the bean – something nature created – not an addition created by researchers somewhere in a lab. Caffeine works by increasing the production of certain neurotransmitters, helping to improve mood, alertness and energy. Drinking coffee, in other words, helps you concentrate on what you’re doing during long working hours or while studying. 

But other than the clear effects of caffeine, is there any other evidence of coffee’s role in promoting health? After all, it’s a plant-based food – and most plants have positive effects on well-being. 

Burns Fat

Thanks to its caffeine content, coffee might be an excellent fat burner. Caffeine can help you burn fat by increasing your metabolic rate and stimulating the breakdown of fatty acids in your body, particularly when you exercise. Coffee may actually help you go harder for longer in the gym, increasing your body’s exertion capacity. (That might be one of the reasons so many pre-workout formulas include it). 

Coffee can also help you feel less groggy during exercise, particularly if you are someone who likes to train in the mornings. It may not burn fat directly, but it encourages you to engage in more exercise and, therefore, more calorie burning. 

Improves Antioxidant Status

Another benefit of coffee is how it can help improve antioxidant status, something that is often low in people who don’t get sufficient fruit and vegetables in their diet. Antioxidants are compounds that protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can cause inflammation, ageing, and chronic diseases. Certain oxygen-scavenging compounds in coffee beans neutralise free radicals and prevent them from harming your body.

Coffee may also upregulate the activity of your body’s own antioxidant systems. They may detect incoming coffee nutrients and use these as a signal to increase the production of glutathione and superoxide dismutase, again helping you to become healthier and live longer. 

Interestingly, research shows that coffee contains more antioxidants than many other common sources, such as fruits, vegetables, tea, and wine. The most important compounds appear to be chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, and polyphenols. These work in different ways in the body, lowering blood pressure, reducing cholesterol levels, preventing diabetes, and protecting against cancer.

Improves Brain Health 

Another reason to buy coffee beans is that they may improve brain health. For instance, some studies have suggested that it can lower the risk of developing neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. These diseases lead to a loss of cognition as you age and affect more people than ever before, particularly over the age of 65. 

Interestingly, coffee may help prevent or delay these diseases by enhancing the function of the brain cells that produce dopamine and acetylcholine, which are critical for transmitting nerve impulses and regulating thoughts, memories, and other brain activities. 

Offers Liver Protection

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A lesser-known benefit of coffee is the effect that it has on the liver. Beans may protect it from damage caused by alcohol, drugs, or toxins. That’s because polyphenols in coffee assist the liver as it filters your blood and detoxifies your body from harmful substances. By improving the organ’s antioxidant status, it can improve inflammation and reduce scarring of the tissue. 

Reduces The Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is becoming more prevalent as people begin suffering the effects of a western-style diet and lifestyle. Too much sedentary behaviour and insufficient physical activity make it much more likely that a person will become insulin-resistant.

However, coffee may help to reverse some of the impacts of these behaviours. This is because coffee contains compounds that help regulate blood sugar levels, such as chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid. These help to blunt the insulin spike that occurs after a meal, assisting the pancreas and causing less damage to blood vessels and other sugar-sensitive tissues in the body.

Additionally, coffee has been shown to increase insulin sensitivity, which can help prevent insulin resistance, a leading cause of type 2 diabetes, possibly due to the polyphenols it contains. That’s one of the reasons it’s important to get your coffee freshly ground because that way, you can take advantage of all the chemicals in the beans. 

Reduces The Likelihood Of Cardiovascular Disease Developing

Studies also show that coffee may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease significantly. Compounds in coffee can lower blood pressure, reducing the incidence of heart disease and stroke. 

Researchers are still trying to figure out why this might be the case, even though coffee is a stimulant. However, they think it has to do with the way coffee binds to receptors in the blood vessels, making it easier for them to open and close. 

In addition, the antioxidants in coffee protect the blood vessels for the same reason they protect tissue in the rest of the body. Oxidation is less likely to occur, improving overall health long-term. 

Lower Risk Of Cancer

Some studies show that coffee may also lower the risk of cancer significantly. A daily cup of Joe can slash your risk of colorectal, liver and prostate cancer, according to research. Again, it’s all down to the protective capacities of the antioxidants. 

Improves Physical Performance

Lastly, drinking coffee beans before a workout has been shown to improve physical performance. Caffeine enhances adrenaline production, which allows you to go longer and harder during exercise. It may also reduce muscle pain and fatigue, making it possible to work out more intensely in a single session, enhancing your results. 

As you can see, coffee has many benefits for your health that go beyond its delicious taste and energising effect. However, this does not mean that you should drink unlimited amounts of it or consume it in any way you like. Always consume it in moderation and listen to what your body says. While it can give your body a boost, it can also lead to insomnia and irritability in some people. Therefore, take it easy and experiment with what works for you. Traditionally, people would consume a single espresso in the morning and that would set them up for the rest of the day. 

Also, make sure you’re preparing your coffee in a healthy way. For instance: 

• Adding sugar or cream to your coffee can increase its calorie content and negate its fat-burning effect

• Using paper filters to brew your coffee can remove some of the beneficial antioxidants from it

You should also check the beans are being roasted at a regular temperature. If the temperature is too high, it can lead to acrylamide production which is something you often find in starchy foods cooked to excess. 

Conclusion

In summary, coffee offers numerous health benefits. It increases energy and may protect against several chronic diseases, thanks to its polyphenol content. Therefore, it’s worth including in your health regimen.