You often hear people say they are addicted to coffee like it’s a bad thing; in fact, coffee is one of the only addictions that is beneficial to your health. Surprisingly, one of the most disparaged ingredients found in coffee, caffeine, provides many of these benefits. There are many benefits to coffee, including reducing the likelihood of cancer and heart disease. Consider the following benefits of coffee:
Coffee makes you sharper
When norepinephrine and dopamine are released, they make it easier for your brain to release other neurotransmitters that make it easer to learn and memorize information. For a short time after drinking coffee, you are “smarter” and can absorb more information-so have a cup before a big meeting or class.
Coffee helps you lose weight
Coffee raises your metabolic rate, meaning you burn more calories and fat when you are at rest. Coffee is also a natural, low calorie drink that doesn’t contain harmful chemicals or sugar like the ones found in soda or fruit juice.This low calorie moniker only applies to black coffee, so skip the cream and sugar.
Coffee can make you buff
Coffee increases the production of the neurotransmitter epinephrine, which is responsible for the rapid release of energy that occurs during a “fight or flight” situation. In order to give the body the strength it needs to survive, epinephrine dumps fat cells into the body to “feed” your muscles; this enables them to function for longer and at a higher rate. While “fight or flight” scenarios are much less common now than they were for our ancestors, you can still take advantage of this “muscle fuel” to increase the strength and duration of your workout.
Coffee gives you energy
The caffeine in coffee is rapidly absorbed into your bloodstream and travels to the brain. Inside the brain, caffeine blocks adenosine, a neurotransmitter that contributes to a feeling of tiredness. It also stimulates the “wake up” neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine and dopamine, causing you to feel refreshed and ready to face the day. To increase this effect, drink an espresso; the pressure at which an espresso machine makes coffee leads to a drink with more caffeine.
Coffee helps you recover
When coffee interacts with the nervous system, it helps suppress mild pain and muscle soreness. Coffee also keeps you hydrated, which helps your body flush out chemicals that cause soreness such as lactic acid. This leads to quicker recovery times, allowing you to increase the frequency of your workouts.
Coffee has nutrients
Although you cant get all the daily recommended vitamins and minerals from coffee, you can make it easier; coffee contains essential vitamins such as B2, B5, and B3. These vitamins provide a variety of functions, including lowering cholesterol. In addition, coffee has magnesium, which increases protein synthesis.
Coffee is an antioxidant
Antioxidants found in coffee helps eliminate free radicals that cause cell damage. Since free radicals often damage skin cells, coffee can help you slow down signs of aging.
Coffee lowers stress
Coffee temporarily alters the proteins in your brain that control stress. This means that after drinking coffee, you will feel less stressed. This has the tertiary effect of reducing blood pressure increases related to stress
Coffee fights brain diseases
Coffee doesn’t only help you learn; it also prevents diseases related to memory loss, such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. It is thought that the way caffeine interacts with a chemical in coffee (currently unknown) increases a growth factor in the blood that slows the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
