With 2.25 billion cups drank every day globally, it is safe to say that coffee is the world's favorite hot drink. Nonetheless, we all know that one person who prefers to stay away from coffee altogether.
Yet the question remains, is coffee actually bad for you, or does it have hidden benefits that make it worth drinking every day? Just like everything else, coffee has its pros and cons. It's just up to everyone who drinks coffee to decide whether or not the pros outweigh the cons.
The good:
The primary health benefit to coffee, which is also probably the most obvious, is that it increases brain function. It helps improve concentration and memory.
If you have a lot to get done at work or you have to cram for an exam last minute, coffee can help you get through it all. Most of us consume coffee for this very reason.
Not only does it help wake up us and help us get going for the day, but it actually tricks our brain into thinking that any kind of work is easier than it is. This doesn't just include mental work, but physical work as well.
Coffee makes a great pre-workout. Not only does it make us believe that the workout is easier than it actually is, but coffee helps increase blood flow and blood circulation. Increased blood circulation helps our muscles get the oxygen they need for proper muscle development during and after the workout.
Coffee also contains a lot of antioxidants. These antioxidants can help protect our cells from free radical damage. If you are ever exposed to tobacco smoke or radiation, then coffee can help protect our bodies from any negative effects that they may cause.
The bad:
Most people can agree that coffee contains a crazy amount of caffeine. Even though caffeine is usually okay to consume in moderation, it is the sole reason why some people tend to avoid drinking coffee altogether.
Caffeine can cause addiction over time, and as we all know, any kind of addiction is not healthy. Drinking more than four cups of coffee a day, due to the caffeine, is even linked to early death. It can cause high blood pressure and even insomnia.
Again, it's all about moderation. Most people only drink a cup of coffee in the morning to get them going for the day. It leaves them plenty of time to burn the caffeine throughout the day. Too much of anything is bad, but caffeine can especially cause harmful effects if over-consumed.
Aside from the caffeine, some of us have a weakness for over-indulging in sugar and sugary creamers. It's no surprise that overconsumption of sugar is not healthy.
We all know that a lot of people tend to avoid soda and certain fruit juices because of the crazy amount of sugar in these beverages, and coffee is no different. The only difference is that we usually can control how much we put in our cup. So, if you're concerned about your health at all, it's a good idea to limit your sugar along with your caffeine.
In summary:
Drinking a refreshing cup of coffee or two on the way to work or class will probably do more good than bad. It obviously isn't something you can drink blindly, but for a lot of us, coffee is what gives us that boost that we need to get us through the day.
For some of us, drinking coffee is not even about the energy, but instead, it is just something that makes us feel better overall. If anyone acts like a snob towards you for drinking your well-deserved cup of coffee, just hit them with the facts and go on about your merry way.
