The coffee run is a daily ritual in my office. When that midafternoon slump hits, a couple of us will walk over to the Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts down the block—or sometimes both—and pick up everyone’s caffeine fix. I’ve said before that I’m much more of a tea drinker, so it’s very rare that I actually get coffee when my coworkers go out and get their tall Misto or grande Americano (or if it’s a Dunkin day, a toasted almond iced coffee with skim milk). However, I’ll never close the door to coffee completely, because it can give you much more than just an energy boost. Here are just a few of the ways coffee can improve your health:
It lowers your risk of developing cancer and diabetes.
Antioxidant compounds in coffee can help prevent certain types of cancer like colon, liver, and kidney. Caffeine also improves glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity, lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes.
It prevents pain after exercise.
Caffeine blocks adenosine, a chemical that activates pain receptors in cells. Drinking coffee before an intense workout has been shown in studies to cut post-workout pain in half.
It protects against gout.
Uric acid is a substance found in the blood that is linked to gout, a painful, arthritic joint condition. Research suggests that drinking coffee (regular or decaf) lowers levels of uric acid in the body.
It wards off neurodegenerative diseases.
In addition to helping preserve memory, the caffeine in coffee can protect against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. It blocks beta-amyloid, a protein often found in brains of Alzheimer’s patients, and boosts dopamine levels to stop Parkinson’s.
It can prevent gallstones and kidney stones.
Caffeine triggers gallbladder contractions and increases bile flow, effectively reducing the likelihood of gallstone formation. It has also been suggested that coffee lowers the risk of kidney stones by increasing urine output.
It decreases your risk of stroke and death from heart disease.
Thanks to its antioxidants, coffee can improve blood vessel function, reduce inflammation and prevent oxidation of LDL cholesterol, all of which aid in healthy heart functioning.
(Source: Divine Caroline)
Image via FreeDigitalPhotos.net
How do you like your coffee?
