The definition of coffee is simple: Coffee is a brewed drink prepared from roasted coffee beans, which are the seeds of “berries” from the Coffea plant. But this beverage is so much more than that sentence.
People have consumed coffee since the 10th century although Americans started drinking it more during the Revolutionary War when drinking tea was deemed unpatriotic. Now 61% of Americans drink coffee daily including yours truly.
I’m not alone in my love of the brew. Just search for coffee on Pinterest and you’ll get thousands of images returned. The good news is that this obsession can be good for our health.
Coffee Health Benefits
Besides tasting great and being naturally low calorie coffee may just help you live longer. Here are five benefits of imbibing this nectar.
1. Antioxidants – A 2005 study showed that Americans get most their dietary antioxidants from coffee. Even though you might eat fruits and vegetables the antioxidants they contain aren’t used by the body as easily as those from coffee.
This alone might account for all the other health benefits of coffee found in studies.
2. Disease – Coffee has shown a protective effect when it comes to many diseases. Whether it’s Alzheimers, liver disease, diabetes or cardiovascular disease this nectar decreases the risk for all.
Coffee can’t protect people altogether but it seems it does extend time before getting these diseases and potentially severity.
3. Athletic Performance – I get up in time to have a cup of java before heading to my 5 am Kaia Fit class. Apparently studies backup my assertion that I’m able to comlete the workout better after coffee. Researchers don’t know exactly why performance is better with caffeine but a theory is it has to do with extending the time before muscle exhaustion.
4. Happiness – While coffee alone won’t make you happier it is tied to reducing the risk of suicide by 50%! Another study showed that coffee drinkers (4 cups or more daily) were 10% less likely to be depressed than other people.
5. Intelligence – Coffee doesn’t make you a genius but it does enable your brain to perform better. It makes you feel more energized and focus on your work/study. It accomplishes this by blocking neurotransmitters that make you feel calm and sleepy. This is the opposite of other stimulants that just add more stimulating neurotransmitters.
My coffee habit is a balancing act as I try to get enough to satisfy my taste (and get these incredible benefits) and not impact getting a good night’s sleep. For the most part I’m doing well by not having caffeine after 9 or 10 am.
Ready for your next cup?
Check out the other great posts in this special coffee talk blog hop!
- An obsession with coffee mugs
- Monday Morning Coffee Talk
- 5 Things to Love About Coffee
- What’s in a Cup?
- Surprise!
- Effects of Coffee
- Cawfee Tawk: How Do You Take It?
- Cori’s Coffee Rant
- Starbucks Customers Restoring Faith in Humanity
- Coffee: Rook
- Caffeine and the athlete
- Running Shoes and Morning Brews
Apparently there are some genetic variations that make certain people more (or less) susceptible to the effects of caffeine. I joke that I need it to live, but I’ve gone whole weekends with zero coffee and been just fine. Unlike you, I can also down a very large espresso drink and then lay down for a nap (or go to bed). I do try not to have coffee after dinner when I’m at home, but I love when I’m at a banquet or fancy dinner and the coffee is actually good.
I wish I could drink coffee all day long! I try so hard to cut myself off by noon 🙁
I love my coffee. I gave it up for a few years when we were trying to have kids and I really really missed it. Interesting that it helps with depression. Guess the coffee and the running are what keep me happy.
Had not heard about the link to reducing depression–another great benefit.