Almost 590 million cups of coffee are consumed in the U.S. every day, making us the most caffeine-addicted country in the world. Some people just can’t make it through the day without their cup of joe, and it’s not hard to understand why. There’s so many benefits to drinking coffee that a lot of us don’t know, making the drink a lot more enjoyable.
Coffee reduces your chances of heart disease
Coffee has been linked to lower risks for heart rhythm disturbances in both men and women, and lower risk for strokes in women. In a study of about 130,000 Kaiser Permanente health plan members, people who reported drinking 1 to 3 cups of coffee per day were 20 percent less likely to be hospitalized for abnormal heart rhythms than nondrinkers.
And, for women, coffee may mean a lower risk of stroke. In 2009, a study of 83,700 nurses enrolled in the long-term Nurses' Health Study showed a 20 percent lower risk of stroke in those who reported drinking two or more cups of coffee daily compared to women who drank less coffee or none at all.
Coffee contains several essential antioxidants
Coffee contains several antioxidants that help our body fight dangerous chemicals. Because of this, coffee drinkers have a lower risk of getting diseases such as Type II Diabetes, Parkinson’s, and heart disease. Coffee also contains essential nutrients that our body needs. One cup of coffee has 11 percent of the daily recommended serving of vitamin B2, 6 percent for vitamin B5, 3 percent for potassium, and several others. By drinking coffee without too much sugar, you’re doing your body a nice favor.
Coffee can make you smarter
Coffee can help people feel less tired and increase energy levels. This is because it contains caffeine, which is actually the most commonly consumed psychoactive substance in the world. After drinking coffee, the caffeine is absorbed into the bloodstream. From there, it travels into the brain and blocks an inhibitory neurotransmitter called Adenosine. When that occurs, the amount of other neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and dopamine actually increases, leading to enhanced firing of neurons.
Caffeine consumption can increase physical performance
Caffeine stimulates the nervous system, causing it to send signals to the fat cells to break down body fat. Caffeine also increases Adrenaline levels in the bloodstream. This is known as the “fight or flight” hormone, designed to prepare our bodies for intense physical exertion. Caffeine also makes the fat cells break down body fat, releasing them into the blood as free fatty acids and making them available as fuel. Given these effects, it is not surprising to see that caffeine can improve physical performance by about 11 to 12 percent on average.
Coffee can fight off depression
In a Harvard study published in 2011, women who drank 4 or more cups of coffee per day had a 20 percent lower risk of becoming depressed. Another study with 208,424 individuals found that those who drank 4 or more cups per day were 53 percent less likely to commit suicide. Overall, coffee drinkers seem to be a lot more happier and content in life.
Coffee can lead to a longer life
Given that coffee drinkers are less likely to get many diseases, it makes sense to say that coffee can help you live longer. There are several observational studies showing that coffee drinkers have a lower risk of death. In two large studies, drinking coffee was associated with a 20 percent lower risk of death in men and a 26 percent lower risk of death in women, over a period of 18 to 24 years. This effect appears to be particularly strong in type II diabetics. In one study, diabetics who drank coffee had a 30 percent lower risk of death during a 20-year study period.
Coffee can reduce women’s chances of getting skin cancer
Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School followed 112,897 men and women over a 20-year period. It was discovered that women who drink three or more cups of coffee a day are much less likely to develop skin cancer than those who don’t.
