Amongst the different types of beverages that people drink, coffee is one of the most popular options. The reason is because coffee is used to sharpen minds and wake us up from our daily stupor of exhaustion or lack of sleep. However, many people also worry about the possible negative effects of drinking coffee such as difficulty sleeping and anxiety. Yet according to new research, coffee brings a lot more positive effects on the body as long as it is drunk with limits.
Here are the positive effects of coffee:
Creates happiness
Many worry about the negative impacts of drinking too much coffee, as many believed that it would affect their levels of anxiety. But research believes otherwise. One study from a few years back confirmed that coffee brings happiness. Coffee is believed, according to researchers, to be linked towards positive emotions such as pleasure, kindness, affection, satisfaction, friendship, calm, and yes, happiness. In fact, it also noted that no negative emotions were tied to coffee consumption. Another research by Harvard with 50,000 women found that depression risk decreased as caffeinated coffee consumption increased.
Contains antioxidants
Coffee beans consist of both the fruit and the seed, both are also known to be rich in antioxidants. This means that it is linked to health protection at the same time. Chlorogenic acid, a polyphenol abundant in coffee, has been shown to reduce inflammation and plays a key role in protection against chronic diseases, including obesity. Coffee fruit, on the other hand, can be turned into compost, or dried and brewed as tea. It’s also being used in products like energy drinks, since the fruit also contains caffeine.
Reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes
In 2018, a meta-analysis of 30 studies concluded that drinking coffee is related to the risk of type 2 diabetes. With every cup you drink, researchers found that chance of developing the disease decreased by 6%. Scientists believe that the reasoning to this effect may be due to coffee’s antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects, ability to boost calorie burning, and impact on the content and diversity of health-protective gut microbes.
Lowers rates of other diseases
Not only will it lower the risk of diabetes, but it will protect against other life-threatening diseases. This includes breast, colorectal, endometrial, and prostate cancers, as well as heart disease and Parkinson’s disease. Lifelong coffee/caffeine consumption is also associated with prevention of cognitive decline, and a reduced stroke risk. Brain health is also one of aspects that have been changed with coffee consumptions, in which caffeinated coffee alerts the mind and improves memory for up to 24 hours after consumption.
Gives your workout a boost
As been said before, coffee gives the body benefits even with moderate consumption. Athletic performance is one of the effects, as it improves circulation, increases in muscular strength, endurance, and power, plus reduced pain. Drinking coffee helps you push just a little bit harder during workouts, resulting in better improvements in muscle strength and/or endurance.
A study in the Journal of Applied Physiology found that muscle carbohydrate stores are replenished more rapidly when athletes consume both carbs and caffeine after exercising. This is compared to carbohydrates alone, in which the combo resulted in a 66% increase in muscle glycogen (the storage form of carbs) four hours after intense exercise. This surge in energy reserves increases your ability to exercise harder and/or longer the next time you’re ready to get your heart rate up.
Negative effects to consider
Despite the positive effects that coffee offers, not everyone can drink and reap its benefits. People who are genetically slow metabolizers of caffeine actually have an increased risk of heart attack, high blood pressure, and prediabetes after increasing caffeinated coffee consumption, while fast metabolizers do not carry these risks. Slow metabolizers will also find that caffeine in coffee to inhibits athletic performance, rather than enhancing it.
For others, caffeine can also trigger digestive irritation, including heartburn, as well as an upset stomach, anxiety, rapid heartbeat, and rebound fatigue. Coffee is also not recommended for those who are expecting, for it is linked to low birth weight, pre-term birth, and pregnancy loss.
