Coffee is the second most popular beverage in the world after tea and is an integral part of the daily routine of millions of people for its taste and stimulating effect.
Until several years ago there was a misconception that drinking coffee had negative health effects due to its high caffeine content.
Fortunately, recent scientific research has shown that moderate coffee consumption offers many benefits to our body as it is rich in nutrients.
Below we break down the reasons why coffee is good for you and why everyone should drink at least a little coffee in their lifetime.
It is an effective antioxidant
One of the main benefits of coffee is its high content of antioxidants which are more easily absorbed by our body than those contained in fruits and vegetables.
Antioxidants are powerful molecules and their main function is to prevent the damage caused to our body by free radicals, which are responsible for many chronic diseases and premature aging.
Reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes
Coffee consumption has a protective effect against type 2 diabetes according to many studies. This particular type of diabetes has increased tenfold in a few decades as approximately 300 million people now suffer from it.
This disease is characterized by high blood glucose levels either due to resistance to insulin or an inability to produce it.
In a scientific article with 457,922 participants it was found that each additional cup of coffee per day reduced the risk of diabetes by 7%. The more coffee the participants drank, the lower the risk.
In observational studies, coffee has been repeatedly associated with a 23% to 67% reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.
Protects the liver
According to scientific studies, coffee protects against liver and kidney cancer.
People with chronic hepatitis B or C (who have an increased risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma) stand to benefit especially from coffee, as the average risk reduction from various studies is around 50%. Additionally, coffee is associated with better kidney function, as measured by the "glomerular filtration rate" index.
Helps improve brain health
Coffee can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Both coffee in general, and caffeine in particular, exert a strong protective effect on brain cells from degenerative diseases of old age, such as Alzheimer's type dementia and Parkinson's disease.
Epidemiological studies show that people with high coffee consumption are affected in a lower percentage of these two diseases.
Alzheimer's is the most common neurodegenerative disorder in the world and one of the leading causes of dementia. In studies that have been done, those who drink coffee are up to 60% less likely to suffer from Alzheimer's and dementia. Coffee cannot stop the appearance of the disease once it has already started, but it can significantly delay its development.
Parkinson's is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by the deστρθψτιον of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain. Coffee can reduce the risk of Parkinson's by 32% - 60%.
Helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease
Daily coffee consumption helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems.
This is achieved by lowering LDL cholesterol (the "bad cholesterol") and lowering blood pressure due to the increase in blood circulation caused by caffeine.
Boosts metabolism
Coffee can help our body burn more fat. This can be seen in the caffeine content of most commercial slimming products.
Caffeine, due to the stimulating effect it has on the central nervous system, increases the metabolism and also the oxidation (metabolism) of fatty acids.
Improves mental health
If you're worried about developing depression, then coffee may be your best defence. Across many different studies, one consistent finding has been that coffee drinkers have much lower rates of depression than non-coffee drinkers.
This probably has to do with the fact that coffee helps our brain produce more serotonin and dopamine. These are the "feel good" hormones your body craves. And when you feel good every day, you're much less likely to get depressed.
Has beauty benefits
Coffee can increase your natural beauty through three actions: (a) it can play a role in cell repair by removing dead cells and reducing cellulite, (b) increases collagen production, and (c) it reduces inflammation.
Protects the reproductive system
If you are looking for a beverage to reduce the risk of prostate cancer and endometrial cancer, coffee is ideal.
A 2011 study found that men who consumed at least six or more cups of coffee a day reduced their risk of prostate cancer by 20%.
Another study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology found that women who drank more than four cups of coffee a day had a 25% lower risk of endometrial cancer.
