Coffee is one of the oldest and common drinks across most cultures in the world, with historical findings placing it in Ethiopia as early as the 11th century. But back then there were no espressos or macchiatos; they hadn’t even cracked into the coffee fruit yet – they were boiling the leaves and drinking the ‘soup’ for it’s perceived medicinal properties.
And they were right; coffee does a lot more than just adding a hop to your morning step. Here are 10 reasons you can quote to support your raving addition to this rich and delicious drink.
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It improves your brain function
Caffeine often gets a bad rap. From causing anxiety to reducing the quality of sleep, it’s taken the blame for common symptoms of a poor diet and lack of regular exercise. But caffeine actually improves your overall brain function, focus and clarity. Studies have shown that drinking coffee brings about a number of chemical changes in neurotransmitters responsible for improvements in mood, coordination and reaction time. It also stimulates the nervous system to release a bunch of amazing chemicals such as serotonin, dopamine and adrenaline (the ‘happy’, ‘enjoyable’ and ‘energetic’ chemicals your brain makes).
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It improves your memory
A number of studies over the past few years have been looking into the effect of caffeine on memory retention, learning capability and event recall. In 2014, researchers at Johns Hopkins found that the caffeine found in coffee can enhance short-term memories and retention substantially for up to 24 hours after consumption.
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It improves your physical ability
We can all notice the difference in a workout when we’re tired versus when we’re bouncing off the walls. Studies have found that there’s a clear increase in energy output in subjects who consume coffee before a workout, improving physical performance by anywhere up to 12%. Coffee is also a far better option compared to the artifical pre-workouts that are often taken before exercising.
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It’s a useful post-workout drink
As well as before, drinking coffee after working out also has a number of benefits. Consuming coffee after endurance workouts actually shorten your recovery time by increasing the amount of glucose your muscles have direct access to. Studies on a group of cyclists in 2008 found that the group who consumed coffee AND their post workout meal ended up with “an average glycogen level that was a whopping 60 percent higher than the group that just consumed post-workout carbs”.
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It torches fat
The caffeine in coffee is a stimulant, and as a result increases your energy levels, heart rate and metabolic rate. The faster your metabolic rate is, the faster your body burns stored fat to use it as energy. Consuming coffee along with a diet filled with good fats and low carbs will make sure your metabolic rate is kept at its maximum.
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It can help you avoid progressive brain diseases
Studies have been able to link the consumption of coffee with a decreased risk of progressive mental diseases such as Dementia and Alzheimer’s. Coffee drinkers who consumed between 3-5 cups per day during their midlife decreased their risk of developing the mental degenerating diseases by 65%.
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It helps detoxify the liver
Large studies of over 2 million people found that drinking 1-2 cups of coffee a day was associated with a 20% reduction in developing liver cancer. This is mainly due to the antioxidants and anticarcinogenic properties passing through the liver from the drink, resulting in a detoxification process unlike any other.
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It can help fight depression
Although depression is rarely discussed as a disease in society, almost every form of depression is due to a chemical imbalance or inflammation in certain parts of the brain. Treatments for this imbalance include proper diet, regular exercise and constant monitoring, and in extreme cases, medication. Coffee contains affeic acid, ferulic acid and chlorogenic acid, all proven to reduce inflammation in the brain and some symptoms of depression.
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It keeps you regular
Not only is coffee a natural and gentle laxative, but it contains 1.8 grams of fiber per serving. If you’re struggling with bloating, gas or regularity, coffee could be your easiest option to get everything moving again.
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It keeps your vision 20/20
The chlorogenic acid found in coffee is one of the strongest antioxidants you can source from food. It has incredibly powerful repairing and detoxifying effects on certain parts of the body, including your retina. Consumption of coffee has been linked to the prevention of retinal damage from oxidative stress.
Original article by feature writer Jane Sandwood
