Savour your cuppa and enjoy the wonderful health benefits of coffee
For most people, coffee is the holy grail that keeps them awake every day. It’s a magical beverage that turns you from a zombie to a human. If you are feeling a little slow in the mid-afternoon, a little coffee will spike you right up. It will keep you moving any time of the day. However, did you know that coffee is beneficial for your wellbeing and can therefore be incorporated into your healthy living choices? Well, as it turns out, coffee has some amazing health benefits. Providing you drink moderate amounts you will be able to enjoy the flavour, the buzz, and the wonderful health benefits of coffee.
Caffeine And Health
Caffeine is what makes coffee so amazing for most of us. It is a natural stimulant that builds up your energy. Besides waking you up, caffeine also goes to the brain to improve your mood, memory, mental function, and reaction times. It also improves your endurance and overall performance during exercise, according to some studies.
But good coffee is so much more to offer than caffeine!
According to scientists, roasted coffee contains close to a thousand various botanical compounds. Not all of these compounds have been independently studied but research continues to show that moderate coffee drinking is great for your body.
Coffee is a source of nutrients such as vitamin B, riboflavin, and potassium. Coffee beans are also rich in antioxidants that protect cells against damage. Did you know that coffee is one of the best sources of antioxidants for most people?
But of course, we are talking about coffee made from fresh beans – not the instant stuff which offers neither the great taste, aroma, or health benefits of freshly ground coffee.
You can grind beans and use a standard coffee maker, but bean to cup coffee machines are a fantastic option. The machines vary a great deal in price, but a small efficient machine should not break the bank and will certainly pay for itself quite quickly if you compare the price of coffee beans to using coffee pods. That is also an environmentally friendly option as almost 30,000 coffee pods go to landfill each month and take 500 years to decompose!
There are an increasing number of eco caps available, but they are not necessarily as easy to dispose of in an environmentally friendly way as implied. Lavazza, for example, offers a small selection of eco pods that they say can be put in with your food waste. However, they also say you should check with your local council – and many local councils do not accept these pods!
Another benefit of using coffee beans is the much bigger selection of products available, especially if purchasing online. Some companies such as these coffee roasters, Kent provide freshly roasted, single-origin coffee beans and focus on “quality products that are responsibly produced and ethically sourced, where farmers are celebrated and treated fairly.”
What Are The Benefits Of Coffee?
Lowering The Risk Of Disease
All the various ingredients found in coffee make up an amazing beverage. Drinking coffee regularly will reduce the risk of various illnesses. These include the following.
- Type 2 Diabetes – Multiple research studies have identified that drinking coffee regularly may reduce the risk of contracting type 2 diabetes. These benefits can come from any type of coffee, whether decaf or non-decaf.
- Neurological Diseases – Drinking coffee regularly has been linked to reduced risks of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
Liver Disease – Coffee protects the liver from cirrhosis, especially for people at high risk of getting the disease. These include people with alcohol abuse problems or fatty liver disease.
- Cancer – Research scientists have identified that taking coffee regularly reduces your risk of getting colorectal cancer or liver cancer. Note that these are the 2 main causes of cancer-related deaths globally.
- Depression – Moderate coffee drinking has been shown to reduce the risk of depression by up to one third because of its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and microbiome-promoting properties.
Are There Any Health Risks Associated With Taking Coffee?
Yes, coffee can provide all the health benefits mentioned above but it is not 100% perfect. Taking too much coffee might lead to dehydration. After drinking coffee some people feel anxious and jittery. Also, you might have poor sleeping patterns after drinking too much coffee, especially late in the day.
To enjoy the health benefits of coffee, you need to follow the instructions below.
- Don’t Take Too Much Coffee – You should take less than 400mg of caffeine every day. Taking an 8-ounce cup of coffee is usually about 80mg to 100mg of caffeine. Therefore, you need only 4 cups a day.
- Cut Back On Coffee If You Are Pregnant – According to research studies, pregnant women should only take 200mg of caffeine every day (about 2 cups). Scientists are still researching whether taking more coffee during pregnancy will pose any health risks.
- Avoid Taking Coffee Late In The Day – When you take coffee later in the day, it will stay in your system for a few hours. Therefore, drinking coffee late in the afternoon or after dinner might make you restless the whole night. You should only take decaf coffee in the evening.
- Avoid Add-ins – Sugar, flavoured syrups and whipped cream are some of the common add-ins found in coffee. These might not be too nutritious. Keep in mind that coffee itself is healthy but what you add to it might not be nutritious. Stay away from saturated fat and sugar, especially if you are taking a few cups of coffee a day.
Final Thoughts
Providing you understand the pros and cons of coffee and drink in moderation, you can continue to enjoy the great taste, aroma, and energy buzz while maximising the amazing health benefits of coffee.