7 Reasons Why You Should Drink Coffee Every Day

Friday, June 9, 2017
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Author: Cheryl Lamb
It is the beverage that begins a million mornings. It brings people together for conversation and keeps the vigor going on late nights. In many countries, only water is consumed more. What is this desired drink? It is coffee. Though always a staple of the morning routines, in recent decades the popularity of coffee has soared. From the coffee shops of the 90's to the Starbucks that seem to be on every corner today, it is clear that people love their coffee.
What they probably don't know is that there are many health benefits to regular consumption. Recent studies have shown that coffee drinkers tend to be diagnosed significantly less with serious diseases than non-coffee drinkers.
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Coffee is rich in Antioxidants & Nutrients
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It promotes a sense of Well-being & Happiness
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It boosts Brain Function & Short-Term Memory
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It improves Muscle Function
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It reduces the Risk of Type II Diabetes
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It lowers the Risk of Liver Disease
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Coffee can also help protect the Brain in Old Age
Read on to discover in more detail why you should be drinking coffee every day.
Abundant in Antioxidants & Nutrients
When you think of foods and beverages that are high in antioxidants, coffee probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind. While fruits and vegetables are loaded with antioxidants, coffee is outweighs both combined as the largest source in the western diet. The body easily absorbs the antioxidants in coffee, such as caffeic acid, eugenol and tannic acid. Antioxidants are necessary to protect cells and curtail inflammation that is at the root of most diseases. Coffee is also particularly high in flavonoids. These antioxidant compounds possess anti-tumor, antiviral and anti-allergenic qualities.
Coffee begins with the coffee bean. These beans are loaded with nutrients essential to maintaining a healthy body. Most of these nutrients survive the brewing process and are still available in the final drink. They include riboflavin (B2), Magnesium, Potassium, Pantothenic Acid (B5), Niacin and Manganese. One cup alone won't give the amount of nutrients the body needs each day, but for those that drink more than one cup a day, the total will add up.
Boosts Sense of Well-being & Happiness
Drinking coffee is one of the quickest ways to lift mood without suffering from harmful side effects. This can be attributed not only to the caffeine, but also to the beneficial antioxidants coffee contains. Caffeine is a stimulant that invigorates the central nervous system waking up the brain and major nerves. Coffee also increases the release of serotonin, dopamine and other neurotransmitters that act as mild antidepressants by increasing feelings of pleasure while lowering levels of depression and suicidal tendencies. It doesn't take a whole pot to reap emotional benefits. A daily dose of 300 mg, or that found in two to three cups can improve overall mood.
Boosts Brain Health & Short-Term Memory
Regular consumption of coffee can result in brain-boosting power. The caffeine contained improves blood flow in the brain that helps to increase not only short-term memory but also overall cognitive function. Caffeine also blocks the effects of adenosine, a neurotransmitter that has an inhibitory effect on the central nervous system. By blocking adenosine, other neurotransmitters such as dopamine can be released in greater quantities thus improving mood, reaction time and memory.
Improves Muscle Function
Working out is great for the body, but usually leave muscles feeling achy and uncomfortable. Regular consumption of coffee can help diminish this after-effect as well as enhance endurance. The Journal of Applied Physiology has found that athletes who combined caffeine with carbohydrates produced 65% more glycogen than those who only consumed carbs. This polysaccharide is the main form in which glucose is stored in the body. It is necessary for proper muscle function so the higher the levels, the better the muscles work and recover. Caffeine won't help build muscle mass, but it will help reduce inflammation and fatigue. And with an 8-ounce cup containing only two calories, coffee won't hinder results.
Decreases Development of Type II Diabetes
Type II diabetes is on its way to becoming an epidemic. This lifestyle-related disease currently affects over 300 million people around the world with numbers growing each year. Sufferers of type II diabetes typically develop high blood glucose levels either caused by insulin resistance or a complete inability of the body to produce insulin. Studies have shown that coffee drinkers have a 23 to 50% lower risk of developing this disease. Those that drank over four cups each day benefit from an addition 7% decrease. In essence, the more coffee consumed, the lower the risk. Further studies show that it's the coffee, not the caffeine that provides protection, meaning that drinkers of decaf can still reap this reward.
Safeguards the Liver
Aside from disease; mainly drinking alcohol and eating fatty foods cause liver damage. Poor lifestyle choices can lead to fatty liver disease or worse, cirrhosis. Coffee may help protect the liver from these diseases. Studies have shown coffee to protect against alcoholic cirrhosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. While it may help protect this organ, it is not a safeguard against the effects alcohol has on the body and should not be used in place of a doctor's advice. In addition to cirrhosis and fatty liver disease, researchers in Italy discovered that regular consumption of coffee is likely to lower the risk of liver cancer by up to 40%.
Helps to Protect Your Brain in Old Age
Coffee can also help to protect the brain from the effects of aging. Studies show that regular coffee drinkers have up to a 65% lower risk of developing Alzheimer's and dementia. Drinkers also have between 32 to 60% lower risk of developing Parkinson's disease, which results in the death of dopamine-generating neurons located in the brain. A study performed by the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre suggested that caffeine found in coffee is likely to improve Parkinson's patients control movement.