Wake up and smell the good news; International Coffee Day is just three days away, falling this year (as with every other) on the 1st October.
In fact, when you look at it creatively, you can actually spell ‘coffee’ from the letters in ‘October First’, and if you really want to to stretch this introduction out for the duration of your morning cup of Joe, several of those letters in ‘October’ look a bit like a rudimentary sketch of a coffee mug.
As if you needed an excuse to brew another of the world’s favourite drink. But if you do actually need an excuse, you’ve come to the right place; here are 7 surprising benefits of drinking coffee, as well as a couple of cons, just for impartiality’s sake.
Coffee Is High In Antioxidants
While the amount of nutrients in coffee is negligible, the quantity of antioxidants can really have an impact. Research even shows that most people get more antioxidants from their daily coffee than they do from fruits and vegetables. This may also be because the majority of people aren’t eating healthily enough, given, but it’s still important to note this as a benefit of coffee, and the perfect reason to go turn on the kettle.
Coffee Reduces Tiredness & May Improve Sporting Performance
We’re sure you already know that coffee acts as a stimulant and increases alertness. Let’s face it; this is the chief reason people reach for their coffee making machines as soon as they wake up. This effect is down to the presence of caffeine in the drink, with the natural stimulant quickly going to work on our central nervous system.
And yes, we realise we said ‘surprising’ in the title, so allow us to surprise you; because of caffeine’s stimulating effect, coffee may even improve sporting performance. Indeed, as reported by the Healthline, a 2016 study found that ‘’consuming caffeine before and during a round of golf improved performance, increased subjective energy levels, and reduced feelings of fatigue’’
Coffee May Help With Depression
Surprisingly, some studies show that the more coffee an individual drinks (up to four cups a day, it should be noted), the lower their risk of depression. The science behind this is complicated, but this is more than enough of a reason to continue drinking coffee.
Of course, we have to consider the fact that those who have the time and money to consume upwards of 1500 coffees a year may just live more relaxing lives generally, which could well contribute to their better mood!
Read: 5 IDEAL tips on how to make a barista-style coffee at home
Coffee May Protect You From Neurodegenerative Diseases
A range of studies have even investigated the suggestion that drinking coffee could reduce risks of diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. As Parkinson’s News Today reports, the risk may be reduced by as much as 30%, with the optimal amount of coffee consumption amounting to around three cups a day. Hey, who are we to argue with that?
Coffee Could Lower Your Risk Of Developing Liver Disease
As well as this, coffee drinkers might have a lower risk of developing liver diseases. In fact, a relatively recent study, conducted just last year, indicated that coffee consumption is associated with lower liver stiffness, a parameter used for the diagnosis of liver disease.
Coffee Could Boost Gut Health
We’re all well aware of the importance of good gut health and managing our gut microbiome, right? We’re also likely aware of the sometimes, ahem, laxative effects of our morning cup of Joe. Well, according to California-based gastroenterologist Ali Rezaie via Well + Good, ‘’[Caffeine] can also regulate the movement of the gut and bowel movements which improve the gut microbiome.”
Coffee May Even Help You Live Longer
Due to some of the points we mentioned above, alongside coffee’s reported beneficial impact on diabetes, kidney health, coronary heart disease, and stroke, drinking coffee may, simply put, help you live for longer, according to nutrition experts at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Blimey.
Of course, we couldn’t simply leave this article there, with readers dashing off to down several hot coffees with reckless abandon. There are also a few reported, possible downsides to the good stuff…
Coffee Could Heighten Anxiety
Because coffee is a stimulant, it may increase anxiety symptoms such as increased heart rate. This is unlikely to be an issue if you don’t drink excessive amounts of coffee (and therefore, caffeine), but it’s certainly a risk to be aware of when consumed in high doses. The US Food and Drug Administration suggests that more than four cups is the threshold when negative effects begin.
Coffee Can Lead To A Form Of Caffeine Dependency
When you regularly consume a substance such as caffeine, your body begins to become accustomed to it and may need more to achieve the same effect. Because of this, you can suffer from withdrawal symptoms like headaches, tiredness and low mood when you go without coffee, though these aren’t usually too dramatically pronounced, in general.
Now we’ve explored the benefits of coffee, let’s explore the world via the good stuff; check out these fascinating ways to brew different kinds of coffee from around the world. Cheers!