Are you a coffee addict? From your morning brew to that afternoon pick-me-up, many people love the feel-good warm and fuzzy vibes from that delicious cup of joe in hand. And luckily, scientists have discovered benefits of drinking coffee that will make you feel even better about this daily habit.
For centuries, coffee has been a staple in human diets. It’s not just an addictive substance; whether it wakes you up in the morning or helps you maintain healthy heart functions, there are some surprising benefits of coffee for some systems in the body.
But how does this tasty beverage provide so many benefits? Read on to find out the eight health benefits of coffee scientifically documented to help you understand the science behind your morning (or afternoon) caffeine routine.
Coffee Improves Focus and Productivity
Need coffee to get your day started? I don’t blame you. Coffee contains caffeine, a psychoactive drug that puts your mind and body into overdrive. By taking that first sip, caffeine stimulates your central nervous system. It enters the brain and inhibits adenosine, a neurotransmitter that makes you tired and fatigued. Therefore, you feel more alert, aware, and concentrated.
Now imagine that meeting when you’re on the edge of falling asleep to complete that project you’ve been working on for weeks. One cup can mean the difference between night and day, as you’ll be engaged and holding focus once you’ve finished your cup. Increases attention with studying, project development, and extended hours on the road are helpful. It’s a quicker fix than a nap to restore the refreshed feeling. Why not indulge in a beverage that nurtures such motivation?
It’s not just for morning people. You can still get your in-work productivity done in the afternoon while sipping your cup of Joe—just don’t drink it too late at night or you’ll be wide awake when you should be asleep!
Coffee Helps You Work Out Better
If you like to exercise or run, coffee will be your best supplement buddy. Caffeine works your brain and body. When you drink coffee before or during exercise, it helps your body use fat reserves as energy. This means you can work out harder and longer without getting tired.
This is what happens when you drink pre-workout coffee and have to work out steadily but feel encouraged to get up and go. You’re going for a walk, jog, or run, and then thirty minutes later, you’re not only hyped up to work out, but your muscles are hyped up—stronger, longer, more fun involved. A naturally occurring supplement to facilitate the body working, essentially.
Caffeine makes you less groggy while working out. That burning in your quads, that tingling in your biceps? Caffeine can reduce the feeling to help you get through it. Whether it’s low impact or high impact, weight training, running, or yoga, a cup can help you get the most out of your session. Why not experiment with this concept?
Coffee Is Your Heart’s Friend
Coffee is your heart’s best friend. Your heart works hard enough as it is; it doesn’t need any additional stressors. While you shouldn’t go crazy and drink lattes all day long, having a cup or two to perk you up per day can protect your heart. This is thanks to coffee making your arteries more flexible and reducing the stress of what the heart needs to do overall.
When blood vessels are more flexible, it’s easier for the heart to pump blood through them. For example, if there’s a congested highway, driving is going to be stop and go, which requires effort and exertion. But if a highway has flowing traffic, one can enjoy the drive—as long as they are going the right direction. Coffee is like the arterial decongestant that allows for easier driving for your hardest working muscle.
Another plus? Coffee can help regulate blood sugar and cholesterol levels—two things that make or break heart health. Just don’t include any flavored sugary syrups or whipped cream if you’re aiming for heart-healthy options. Black coffee or a splash of milk is fine. How wonderful to know that your daily brew is doing something good for your heart!
Coffee Protects Your Brain
When you get older, maintaining proper function of your brain is just as important. Now, there’s coffee to help. The natural caffeine found in coffee along with the positive compounds within it all work to promote good brain health over time, working together to keep you stimulated and productive with appropriate memory and focus.
How often do you find yourself struggling to remember something—a name, a fact, it’s on the tip of your tongue? Drinking coffee can help your mind focus a little bit better. Drinking coffee is like a daily workout for your brain, keeping it trim and in tip-top shape, while that morning cup can be a typical comforting, daily endeavor to get the day started on the right foot.
Even better, the cognitive benefits associated with coffee drinking extend beyond focus. Many coffee drinkers also experience effective mood changes as caffeine is known to be a pick-me-up. If you’re feeling down and out, maybe a fresh, hot cup of java can perk you up. Who would have known that your favorite beverage is also such an effective cognitive enhancer?
Coffee Gets Your Stomach Going
Coffee gets your stomach going. Ever needed a post-feast pick-me-up or any type of coffee buzz? Well, your stomach is churning because coffee works as a digestive tract so you can break down food and get things moving. Now you understand why people drink coffee after dinner—not just for pleasure.
Coffee also promotes stomach acids and helps break down proteins and other nutrients; it activates your intestines so you don’t feel all bloated and gross. If you’ve ever leveraged coffee to stop feeling so full after a big meal, your stomach appreciates it.
Of course, everybody is different. If you have a sensitive stomach, perhaps you want to limit your doses or choose a milder roast. But for the average body, coffee is a simple way to enhance immune system function. How amazing that one little drink can accomplish all this?
Coffee Boosts Your Immune System
Your immune system is the barrier between illness and wellness; it’s the castle protecting the kingdom. Sometimes, researchers claim, coffee helps it do its job even better. Coffee is loaded with antioxidants—natural substances that prevent cells from deteriorating and being compromised. When they don’t deteriorate, your immune system works better and you can battle colds and other evils with ease.
Imagine that same morning when you’re struggling to get through another sleepy afternoon. The coffee you sip not only brings you to life, but it might also help keep you in shape. Studies indicate that coffee facilitates weight control. It creates a thermogenic response in the body, which means that it helps the body’s metabolism burn fat at a higher rate than normal. In addition, the caffeine in coffee serves as a powerful appetite suppressant—at least short-term—decreasing your caloric intake without you even knowing.
Coffee Promotes Weight Management
Are you on a weight loss journey? Drink coffee. Black coffee has no calories—almost none if you don’t add sugar and cream. Therefore, it acts as a filler drink that doesn’t take away from your calories for the day. Furthermore, coffee provides a temporary boost to the metabolism, meaning that after drinking coffee, the body burns calories a little faster. It’s like the perfect drink when you’re trying to limit your consumption.
For example, if you’re trying to reduce consumption of chips and dips but need something during that mid-afternoon slump, a cup of black coffee can get you through for a little while so you don’t head to the kitchen for a snack. While not a magic bullet for weight loss, it’s something you can do to encourage weight loss over time. Getting hungry during that 3 PM slump? Have a coffee instead—without sugar.
Moreover, coffee energizes you, and staying energized is key to staying active—and staying active is critical to maintaining a healthy body! Whether you’re exercising, going for a dance, or going for a walk, that little push makes you want to move! What beverage makes you feel good and makes you work toward your goals at the same time?
Coffee Enhances Mood and Sociability
Let’s be honest—people love coffee. There’s a rustic charm of the cup in hand, and the smell that wafts under one’s nose increases feelings of joy. Even a stress reliever through a positive increase in mood, coffee makes you feel good and more receptive to challenges. Ever tried working without your morning brew?
Coffee brings community, too. How often have you met a friend for a cup or chatted about your new project with a coworker over a mug in the break room? These community connections make you feel part of something more significant, and when others empathize with what you’re doing or what makes you tick, what was once critical in your day can be minimized after an excellent coffee-fueled conversation. It’s not just about what you’re drinking but also about the connection with memories and experiences.
Whether you drink coffee alone or with friends, it doesn’t matter because coffee makes everything a little more accessible to enjoy life—and what could be better than enjoying everything over good feeling in every steaming cup? How incredible that something so simple makes people feel so good!
Tips for Enjoying Coffee Healthfully
Some easy precautions to be sure you are taking advantage of all that coffee has to offer include moderation. 2–3 cups per day provide enough caffeine for you to enjoy the benefits without the jitters or interference with sleep. If you find yourself anxious after too much caffeine, take note. If too much caffeine keeps you up at night, take note. For those whose sensitivity to caffeine runs higher, decaf still offers much of coffee’s healthy benefits.
Another precaution to ensure proper practices includes keeping coffee unsweetened. Sugars and cream transform a beneficial cup of coffee into dessert; it only needs a splash of milk or a light, natural sweetener to perfect it. Finally, consume coffee earlier in the day to avoid sleep disruption.
Experiment. There are so many types of coffee you can grow to love, from light roasts to dark roasts to cold brew, which all present unique flavor profiles and experiences. And making your coffee at home is cheaper than buying it on the go and enables you to add only the things you want for your perfect cup. If you love something this much, you might as well have it daily.
Conclusion
Coffee is not just a beverage in one’s daily routine; it’s a potion that can alter one’s physical and mental being. From additional energy to productivity and heart and brain health, those eight health benefits show precisely why coffee is a popular beverage choice for millions across the planet. It’s amazing what something so seemingly basic can do for you, isn’t it?
So as you brew your next cup, keep in mind the daily pleasantries and perks your delicious habit brings. Whether morning, midday, or night, whether it’s consumed pre-gym or at your in-home office to keep you focused or at the end of the day to help you unwind, coffee is there for you—but just be sure to enjoy it in moderation and without additional sugars (for the most part) and savor every sip.
What are you waiting for to have a cup right now? Grab your favorite mug, customize it, and enjoy all the benefits of one of the world’s most popular beverages. Here’s to coffee—and here’s to feeling great all day, every day!