Top 10 Benefits of Coffee

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We all know that coffee has caffeine and that’s what gives it part of its enticing draw. Okay, maybe a lot of its draw.

For some, however, you enjoy every part of it; the smell, how it stimulates the senses, the flavor and most importantly, the benefits

These benefits are the ones we are going to talk about, but before we get started, grab yourself a cup of your favorite coffee, sit, and most importantly, relax.

Coffee Benefit #1: Stimulant

Coffee helps you focus when you wake up in the morning because of the caffeine found within. Caffeine is a stimulant which affects the central nervous system and is found naturally in coffee and tea.

Not only does coffee improve brain function, but it also helps with your mood, memory and reaction times to different stimulants throughout the day. Drinking a cup of coffee may be the difference between actively engaging in your morning meeting or zoning out for the hour.

By: Tallene Hacatoryan, MS, RD, CLT

Coffee Benefit #2: Metabolism Booster

Because of the caffeine effect, a person’s metabolism gets an extra boost. With more energy, people become more active. That could be your motivation to hit the gym or just start your day. However, a person shouldn’t rely on coffee to get moving but instead, see coffee as a tool that can aid in weight loss and boost your metabolism.

Coffee Benefit #3: Lowers the Risk of Diabetes

What people with diabetes eat and drink directly affects their blood glucose levels. We often concentrate on food, but what people drink is just as important.

Many people start the day with a cup of coffee, and some studies have suggested that drinking coffee may reduce the risk of getting diabetes.

By: Brian Wu
Reviewed by Peggy Pletcher, MS, RD, LD, CDE

If you have a history of type 2 diabetes in your family, drinking coffee can lower your risk by 50-percent according to several medical journals. The reduction is thanks to a type of a polypeptide within coffee that prevents abnormal protein fibers from developing—common to those with the disease.

By: Emily Lockhart

Coffee Benefit #4: Parkinson’s Prevention

Drinking up to three cups of coffee per day lowers the risk of Parkinson’s by 25 percent according to the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Coffee Benefit #5: Helps Prevent Gout

By drinking at least four cups of coffee per day the risk of gout lowers by 40% according to U.S./Canada studies. This is partially due to the anti-inflammatory benefits found in the drink which help reduce the uric acid and swelling.

Gout starts with a buildup of uric acid in the blood. This results in deposits of uric acid crystals in the joints and surrounding areas, causing swelling and intense pain.

WebMD
By: Daniel J. DeNoon

Coffee Benefit #6: Contains Certain Important Nutrients

Coffee has many nutrients that your body needs and can help with your daily intake.

A single cup of coffee contains:

• Riboflavin (vitamin B2): 11% of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI).
• Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5): 6% of the RDI.
• Manganese and potassium: 3% of the RDI.
• Magnesium and niacin (vitamin B3): 2% of the RDI.

This may not seem like a lot, but with the average person drinking several cups per day, the percent of the RDI will rise quickly.

Coffee Benefit #7: Lowers Your Risk of Premature Death

Given that coffee has multiple nutrients and is high in antioxidants, it makes sense that coffee drinkers have a lower risk of death.

In two very large studies, drinking coffee was associated with a 20% reduced risk of death in men and a 26% decreased risk of death in women, over 18–24 years.

This effect appears particularly strong in people with type 2 diabetes. In one 20-year study, individuals with diabetes who drank coffee had a 30% lower risk of death

By: Kris Gunnars, BSc

Coffee Benefit #8: Coffee Lowers the Risk of Breast Cancer

Fifty-four percent of adults in the United States drink coffee every day, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. 

Some people have questioned whether drinking coffee is connected with Breast Cancer. In different studies, however, the opposite appears to be true. Serious coffee drinkers are actually lowering their risk of breast cancer.

A study published in January 2015 has confirmed the link between coffee and lowered breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women. This study involves people who drink three plus cups per day. A higher intake in coffee resulted in a higher reduction in risk.

Note: There was no benefit found between Breast Cancer prevention and decaffeinated coffee.

Coffee Benefit #9: Coffee is the Best Source of Antioxidants

Coffee contains very large amounts of antioxidants, including polyphenols and hydrocinnamic acids. These antioxidants may improve health and help reduce the risk of several diseases.

Most antioxidants in the Western diet come from beverages such as coffee and tea. Only 21% of dietary antioxidants come from food.

By: Adda Bjarnadottir, MS

With studies done from all over the world, coffee was found to be the largest source of antioxidants in an average person’s diet.

Coffee Benefit #10: Reduces the Risk of Prostate Cancer

According to a new study led by Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers, men who drink coffee lower their risk of developing prostate cancer.

The study was published May 17, 2011, in an online edition of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Read the abstract.

“Few studies have specifically studied the association of coffee intake and the risk of lethal prostate cancer, the form of the disease that is the most critical to prevent. Our study is the largest to date to examine whether coffee could lower the risk of lethal prostate cancer.” Lethal prostate cancer is cancer that causes death or spreads to the bones.

[[Lorelei Mucci]], associate professor of epidemiology at HSPH

With one in every six men being affected by prostate cancer, this study has huge implications both in the aid and prevention of this frequently diagnosed form of cancer. 

“At present, we lack an understanding of risk factors that can be changed or controlled to lower the risk of lethal prostate cancer. If our findings are validated, coffee could represent one modifiable factor that may lower the risk of developing the most harmful form of prostate cancer.”

[[Kathryn Wilson]], a research fellow in epidemiology at HSPH.

The researcher chose coffee to study due to its beneficial compounds.

How’s that coffee tasting? If it’s possible, your habit/lifesaver will now taste even better since you know how good it is for you. You’re welcome ;).

I have just given you permission to saver and enjoy, without feeling guilty so my job is done for the week.

Enjoy yourselves and be sure to share the Top 10 Benefits of coffee with a friend.

Cheers!

-Heather Earles