4 Surprising Health Facts You Didn't Know About Coffee

Tags - Coffee Health Facts

For a long time, people were convinced that tea offers bigger health and wellness benefits than coffee.

Well, not anymore.

Health experts are now finding different reasons to recommend drinking coffee, and most of these reasons stem back to a single contributor: coffee has antioxidant properties.

Simply, coffee has been found to be abundant in bioactive compounds that promote health.

And these compounds can improve the gut microbiome (healthy bacteria that aids digestion and boosts immunity), as well as reducing oxidative stress.

Not to mention, coffee beans have a deep rich colour, and as you may already know, the deeper the colour of a plant, the more benefits you can expect for your health.

And these benefits translate into everything from lessening your risk of diabetes to promoting optimal brain function.

Before we dive into some health facts, it’s important to note that moderation is key. Current dietary guidelines suggest three to five cups of coffee, or 400mg of caffeine, per day is suitable as part of a healthy diet.

However, this refers to plain black coffee, not fancy cappuccinos or lattes, which are often high in calories, sugar and fat.

It’s also worth noting here that if you are taking any medication, you may be limited to your caffeine intake so talk with your GP to be sure.

With that said, let’s take a look at 4 surprising health facts about coffee you didn’t know about.

1. Boosts Brain Health

Whilst some scientists aren’t completely sure, some research suggests that regular coffee consumption can offer protection against dementia.

In the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, people aged between 65-84, who drank a cup or two of coffee everyday had lower levels of mild cognitive impairment compared to those who never consumed caffeine at all.

Plus, there is also research that suggests coffee can also protect against Parkinson’s disease.

OK, so all of this sounds positive but you still need to be careful on the refills.

The reason being, there is some data that suggests drinking more than 5 cups of coffee a day can have an adverse impact on the brain; the more coffee people drank, the more the brain shrinkage seen in their scans.

So, it’s all about moderation!

2. Improves Mood

I’m sure everyone loves a hot drink in the morning, especially in the winter when it’s cold outside and the last thing you want to do is get out of bed.

Often, coffee is our motivator and you’ve got an automated coffee machine, those fresh smells are enough to wake anyone up!

However, what you may not know is drinking coffee is great at improving our mood.

Research reveals that coffee can reduce the risk of depression by almost one third, and this effect could be related to its anti-inflammatory properties.

Furthermore, coffee contains phytochemicals that feed good bacteria into our guts, and this good bacteria can produce other compounds which act on the brain, and have positive effects on mood.

3. Protects Your Heart

It may seem counterintuitive, but drinking coffee to start the day or to get you through a dull afternoon has some great benefits for your heart.

In fact, it’s been found that drinking one cup of caffeinated coffee a day may reduce your risk of heart failure, and this benefit extends to your overall cardiovascular system.

Moreover, researchers have also found that drinking up to three cups of coffee a day was associated with lower risk of stroke or death from a cardiovascular disease.

How? 

Simply, MRI scans showed that daily coffee drinkers had healthier sized and better functioning hearts than those who didn’t drink coffee regularly.

4. Assists Your Workouts

Drinking a cup of coffee before you go to the gym or begin a home workout can make a huge difference.

Why?

Well, when you drink coffee, it’s found to improve blood circulation, endurance and muscular strength, as well as reduce pain.

Keep in mind, coffee can also act as a diuretic though, so remember you must drink extra water during your workout to prevent dehydration.

If you want to make the most of your workouts, drink coffee within an hour of your start time - studies reveal drinking coffee 30 minutes before can also help boost fat burning.

Final Words

Overall, coffee is a beloved drink worldwide and its energising effects, as well as its health benefits, give you all the more reason to get brewing.

The biggest thing to keep in mind is your daily intake, so always drink coffee in moderation - 2-5 cups a day is considered safe for most adults.

Please get in touch for more information.

In the meantime, take a look at our range of disposable coffee cups here.

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