Coffee is known to be that kick starter drink of the morning. Some people cannot fully get into their day and can barely function until they have a cup, while others cannot stand the drink at all. Regardless of your preferences, there are obvious health benefits from drinking coffee. Other than the great taste, beautiful heady smell and the caffeine hit you get from a cup, we present you 7 reasons why you should look into drinking coffee every day.
- Think Smarter
Coffee does not only wake you up and start your day, it also makes your brain function better and helps you think smarter. The active ingredient in it is caffeine, which is a stimulant that blocks the effects of adenosine in the body. It increases the neural firing in the brain and releases dopamine and norepinephrine. Research has it that caffeine can enhance mood, reaction time, memory, cognitive function and vigilance.
- Burn Excess Fat
Coffee does help burn excess fat as caffeine is found to be part of many commercial fat burning supplements. Due to its stimulant effects, caffeine can increase metabolism and enhance the oxidation of fatty acids. Athletes who want to improve their performance can use caffeine as it mobilizes the fatty acids from the fat tissues. Caffeine has been found to increase exercise performance by 11% to 12% on average in 2 separate meta-analyses. Complementing your daily morning routine with a cup to reduce excess fat sounds like a win/win situation.
- Healthy Liver
Coffee is often used to counter the effects of a hangover. Well, a cup a day can also prevent liver cirrhosis due to excess consumption of alcohol. Liver cirrhosis is an autoimmune disease and is 20% less likely to occur in people who consume 1 cup daily.
- Treats Migraine Headache:
Caffeine is actually a main ingredient in many pain-relieving medications, so it isn’t surprising that for some people, treating their migraine with a strong cup of coffee does the trick. However, everyone’s body responds to caffeine differently, and different headaches respond to different treatments. Studies have shown that if you are not a regular coffee drinker, a strong cup can relieve a headache better than if you drink it everyday, potentially because your body is more used to its effects.
- Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease
Coffee consumption over many years has been linked to a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease. The substance trigonelline found in coffee contains neuro-protective properties, and consuming 2-3 cups per day can significantly lower the risk of Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
- Wards Off Depression
Numerous studies have shown that moderate coffee intake (1-3 cups per day) leads to a reduced risk of depression. The mood-enhancing effects of the beverage can be particularly beneficial for women. Researchers believe coffee’s high antioxidant content plays a role in this mood-enhancing benefit.
- Decreased Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition which occurs when your body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or it resists insulin. Numerous studies shows a decreased risk of Type 2 Diabetes with daily coffee consumption.
Written by Abaje Omoniyi