How many times have you been told “stop drinking that, it will rot your teeth!” or “its only going to make you crash in a few hours..” while holding a warm cup of coffee? I know I have and to be honest, those people might not be completely wrong. While coffee does have a few negative side effects associated with drinking its deliciously empowering drink, the positives (based on a little research) seem to outweigh the bad. Now, keep in mind coffee itself has many benefits, but the more sugar/ creamer/ etc. you pour into it, the less beneficial it is to your health! I have compiled a list for you below of 5 major health benefits you gain while splurging on a good ole cup o’ joe.
1. It contains essential nutrients.
One single cup of coffee contains around 11% of the recommended daily amount of Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), 6% of Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5), 3% of Manganese and Potassium, and 2% of Magnesium and Niacin (Vitamin B3). Though these numbers aren’t huge, they definitely add up once you grab that second… or third… maybe 5th cup of coffee!
2. Coffee can help you burn fat!
If thats not reason enough to drink it, I don’t know what is. Studies show that the caffeine found in coffee can actually stimulate your body and help it to increase your metabolism and therefore burn more fat. This is why nearly all workout supplements contain caffeine… because it works! Caffeine blocks inhibitory neurotransmitters within the brain (Adenosine) which causes an increase in the firing of neurons and the release of neurotransmitters like Dopamine. The caffeine signals the body to break down fat.
3. Coffee can actually make you happier
Well duh! No but really, studies show that coffee has healing effects in the sense that it helps those dealing with depression. In a Harvard study done in 2011, they found that women who drank 4 or more cups of coffee a day had a 20% lower risk of becoming depressed. Due to the fact that depression is so common within the United States, especially in women, this is a great thing!
4. It’s good for your heart
So not only is it good for your stomach (because warm & delicious), its also pretty good for your heart too. A study done by a group of Dutch researchers showed that those who drank coffee moderately (2-4 cups a day) had a 20% lower risk of heart disease than their counterparts (those who drank more than 4 cups or no coffee at all). There is some research that coffee helps to protect against arterial damage caused by inflammation!
5. It’s good for your liver
If you mistreat your liver by indulging in one too many cocktails at the bar, coffee is your new BFF. Coffee, according to research, has been shown to lower the risk of liver cancer. Scientists have found that coffee drinking lowers liver enzymes that typically reflect inflammation and damage to the liver. The more coffee consumed, the better off the liver enzyme level was.
So even though coffee contains some negative side effects (it can raise blood pressure, can cause irritability, can damage & stain your teeth, etc.), the positives just might outweigh the negatives. In my opinion life is too short so grab that cup of coffee and enjoy yourself because life is hard and you deserve every last drop (for your sanity and your health!) So now when people nag when you are drinking coffee, tell them you are improving your health and see what they have to say about that 🙂
