7 of the Most Surprising Benefits of Coffee
We love coffee. There’s no doubt about it, coffee is our beverage of choice. It’s also one of the most popular beverages in the world today. Whether it’s a low-fat latte, a jolt of espresso, or a plain old cup of Joe, coffee is here to stay and there are very few people in the world that don’t take advantage of the energy it can give you and the taste it brings. Of course, there is also a constant debate waging over whether coffee is good for you or whether it poses serious health risks to the people that drink it. In reality, both are true, while it does come with some health risks, (what doesn’t), it also has quite a few benefits that go along with it as well.
We all have the coffee haters somewhere in our lives. You know the ones that are constantly telling you what is, and most importantly, what isn’t good for you in your daily routine. After this blog, you will be able to point out to those haters that coffee is the world’s most popular beverage for a very good reason, then you can toss a few of the benefits and facts about coffee that we will discuss in our blog out for them to get a good look at.
However, we aren’t a group of writers that just go for the benefits of a beverage we wholeheartedly believe is semi-good for you. In our blog, we will not only look at a few of the most surprising benefits of drinking coffee, we will also look at some of the dangers and side effects of drinking said coffee as well so that you can make an informed decision on whether to add coffee to your daily beverage list. There are also a few myths about coffee out there that we feel need to be debunked for coffee lovers everywhere and will be including them in this blog as well.
Whether you’re a teenager studying for exams, an overworked mom with a newborn infant, or a man who works two jobs to feed his family, everyone needs a pick me up every now and then, and coffee is that pick me up of choice for most of us.
So, without further reflection, let’s dive headlong into our blog on the most surprising benefits of coffee, and the side effects and dangers too.
Top Surprising Benefits of Coffee Revealed
Coffee has been around for ages in one form or another, and for a lot of that time, there has been debate as to whether it’s good for you or bad for your health. Below, we will go into a few of the most surprising benefits of coffee to put the hater’s fears at rest.
It Helps You to Burn Fat
Have you ever noticed that caffeine is in most every supplement that is said to help you burn fat? As a matter of fact, it’s one of the most natural fat-burning substances there is. Coffee has quite a bit of caffeine in it, so it helps burn fat easily, unless you drink lead-free, of course. Coffee helps to ramp up your metabolic rate, which results in you burning fat faster, making it a great, natural weight-loss aid.
It Helps those Adrenaline Levels
The caffeine in coffee is said to help boost adrenaline levels, making it great for sports and exercising at the gym. Drinking roughly half a cup of java before you head to the gym in the mornings can up your workout routine performance by quite a bit.
It is Said to Reduce the Risk of Developing Diabetes
Recent studies have shown that people who drink coffee on a regular basis are 25 to 50 percent less likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes in their lifetime. It is important to note that adding sugar to your coffee makes this benefit a moot point, so you might want to drink it black or with just milk added. A 20-year study also revealed that diabetics who drank coffee on a regular basis were around 30 percent less likely to die from that disease as well. Something to think about for sure.
It Possibly Makes You Smarter
Drinking coffee is said to make neurons fire away in your brain, increasing your energy and your brain function. After all, some of the most scholarly types of the past spent their days in coffee houses, there must be a reason for that right?
It is Said to be Good for Brain Health
Studies have shown that people who are genetically apt to develop Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease had less of a chance of doing so when they drank coffee on a regular basis. Remember, there is no cure for either of these diseases, that has been found of yet, however, it is possible to prevent it from happening to begin with, possibly and coffee is said to help with that prevention.
It is Said to Fight Depression
In a world where just about everyone is on some form of medication for one type of depression or another, the fact that coffee can help with that naturally is something to cheer about. Studies have shown that women who drink a few cups of coffee or a day are 20 percent less likely to develop depression. It is also said that anyone, man or woman, who drinks that amount of coffee a day is over 50 percent less likely to suffer from depression as well. Those are stats worth cheering about, wouldn’t you say?
It is Thought To Aid in the Prevention of Some Forms of Cancer
Coffee is thought to aid in the prevention of some forms of cancer, liver and colorectal cancers to be exact. It’s important to keep in mind, however, that drinking coffee to prevent these forms of cancer is no substitute for visiting your doctor. If you suspect you have these forms of cancer or any other sickness, please make an appointment with your primary care provider as soon as possible for help with the issue.
Other Benefits of Drinking Coffee
Those are a few of the main benefits of drinking coffee everyone needs to know about. Below is a list of the other benefits for you to do your research on as well.
- Aids in protecting the liver
- Increases energy levels
- Increases your lifespan
- It’s a huge source of antioxidants
- Helps improve coordination
- Can make your eyes less puffy
- Can help to tighten your skin
- Helps your hair to grow
- Helps suppress your appetite
- Helps to strengthen your DNA
- Helps get rid of dry skin
- And much, much, much more
These aren’t all of the benefits that drinking coffee can bring you, you can research easily to find quite a few more. Now, that we know the benefits of coffee, it’s only fair that we move into the dangers and side effects that many people, including experts, say can be a result of drinking the beverage as well. Ready? Okay, let’s go.
Side Effects and Dangers of Drinking Coffee Revealed
While there are many benefits to drinking coffee, there are also a few side effects and dangers that need to be considered as well. All joking aside, coffee is not the best beverage for everyone and it’s best to talk to your primary care provider if you have health issues or are just beginning the drink the beverage for the first time. Below, we will give you a list of the side effects and dangers you need to be aware of our beverage of choice. It’s also not a good idea to give coffee to children or to drink more than six cups per day.
- Talk to your doctor if you are expecting or breastfeeding to see if coffee is okay for you and how much is safe for you, your unborn child, or your baby
- Can cause anxiety disorders
- Can cause bleeding disorders
- It is possible that it will cause heart disease
- Can cause diarrhea
- Can worsen the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, IBS
- Glaucoma
- High blood pressure
- Thinning Bones
- There are some medicines and conditions that interact with coffee badly. Talk to your doctor about these things before imbibing, please
These are some of the side effects of drinking coffee that everyone should know about. If you have any of these side effects, then it’s best to stop drinking the beverage, at least until you consult with your doctor. While there are many great benefits to drinking, including the fact that it tastes great and comes in a wide variety of different kinds and flavors, it is still best to be careful and not drink too much.
Now, that we know the different benefits, side effects, and dangers of drinking coffee, we need to delve into the different myths associated with the beverage as well. There are quite a few out there that need to be debunked for coffee lovers everywhere. So what are we waiting for? Let’s dispel these myths together.
Myths About Coffee Debunked
We all know that it can be hard to enjoy your morning and afternoon mug of coffee with a ton of the myths that are circulating about your favorite beverage. That is why we’re here to dispel those myths for you as best we can. Myths and facts will be listed below for you to ponder on.
Myth #1: An Afternoon Cup of Java can Give You Insomnia that Night
Busted:
Of course, we all know that caffeine is a stimulant. However, that afternoon cup of coffee you indulge in is going to process through your liver at lightning speeds, meaning you don’t have to worry about it keeping you awake when bedtime comes around. In other words, if you drink a cup of coffee around three in the afternoon, it should be gone way before bedtime.
Myth #2: A Cup of Coffee will Help You to Sober Up
This is one of the most widely believed myths out there, even in today’s modern world. No, a mug of coffee is not going to be enough to get the alcohol out of your system and sober you up. It can make you more alert, but it’s nowhere near enough to sober you up enough to function or drive. Remember that, the next time you drink too much at a party. So, either stay where you are or call someone to come get you. Never assume that a cup of Joe is going to sober you up enough to drive, it’s not going to happen and you could end up behind bars or worse.
Myth #3: Coffee can Stunt Your Growth
We have all been hearing this myth since we were old enough to know what coffee was. However, it’s another one that isn’t quite true. It’s unclear how this old wives tale got started, however, there is no proof to it at all. It’s still not a great idea to give coffee to children however, as the caffeine isn’t really the best for them.
Myth #4: Pregnant Women Should Never Drink Coffee
While there is no scientific proof that coffee can harm a fetus, there is no concrete proof that it can’t either. That’s why it’s important to limit your caffeine intake if you’re expecting. It’s best to stick with natural energy boosters and do what’s right for you and your unborn child in our humble opinion. Better to be safe than sorry, right?
These myths are some of the ones that need to be dispelled, although there are plenty of them out there.
This concludes our blog on the most surprising benefits that drinking coffee can bring you, as well as the side effects, dangers, and even a few of the myths that surround the beverage. Until next time, drink healthy everyone and don’t let the coffee haters get you down.
Sources
- Healthline: 13 Health Benefits of Coffee: Based on Science
- WebMD: Coffee
- Huff Post: 11 Myths About Coffee You Need to Stop Believing Immediately