13 Benefits of Coffee Based on Scientific Research
Coffee is a drink prepared with roasted coffee beans that are obtained from the berries of the Coffea plant. The beneficial effects of coffee on the human body have been proven by many studies, but in general, coffee is a complex beverage with thousands of different substances.
1. Reasons to drink coffee every day
For many people, coffee is an indispensable drink every morning to help them start a new working day full of excitement. Whether it’s an office worker who is always busy with work or a student trying to enjoy a cup of coffee in the middle of class, it’s hard to imagine a day without it. Caffeine is an addictive substance and makes the body feel uncomfortable without it every day.
In fact, studies have shown that coffee brings more benefits every day than people imagine. Coffee is full of substances that help protect the body against common health problems, especially in women, including Alzheimer’s disease and metabolic cardiovascular diseases including hypertension, coronary heart disease, dyslipidemia …
Many people will immediately think of caffeine when talking about coffee, but that’s not the only thing that exists in this top popular beverage. Coffee contains many antioxidants and compounds that have great anti-inflammatory and disease-fighting properties. This assertion has been confirmed by leading experts and professors of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. In addition, studies also show that people who have the habit of enjoying a cup of coffee every morning have a much lower risk of some serious diseases than those who do not have this habit.
It is not difficult to realize the benefits that coffee brings, 13 important scientifically proven health benefits of coffee are:
2.1. Provide energy and improve thinking ability
Coffee can help people feel less tired and increase energy levels. That’s because coffee contains a stimulant called caffeine – the most commonly used stimulant in the world. Caffeine is absorbed directly into the bloodstream after drinking and then travels to the brain. In the brain, caffeine blocks the release of a type of neurotransmitter inhibitor called adenosine. When adenosine is blocked, levels of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine increase, causing nerve cells to increase their ability to conduct nerve impulses throughout the body.
Many studies with high reliability have been conducted showing that in addition to helping to enhance nerve impulse transmission, coffee can also improve other functions of the brain including memory, mood, energy levels, etc. volume, reaction time, and general neurological function.
2.2. Supports fat burning
Caffeine is present in most products that support weight loss through fat burning because it actually has the ability to do that. Caffeine is one of the few natural substances proven to effectively burn fat . Some studies show that caffeine can help increase your metabolic rate by 3 to 11%. Other studies have also shown that caffeine increases fat burning efficiency by 10% in obese people and 29% in lean people. However, this effect of coffee may be reduced in people who use them long-term.
2.3. Improve physical performance
Caffeine stimulates the nervous system to command the enzymes to hydrolyze fats in the body in a powerful way. Caffeine also increases the concentration of adrenaline in the blood, a hormone that enhances the performance of metabolic processes as well as organs in the body. Fats are hydrolyzed to form free fatty acids as fuel for the body. With all of the above in mind, it’s not surprising that caffeine can improve your body’s performance by up to 12%.
2.4. Contains many essential nutrients
Many nutrients in coffee beans still retain their nutritional value when being prepared. On average, a cup of coffee contains:
- Vitamin B2 : 11% of the body’s recommended daily intake
- Vitamin B5 : 6% of the body’s recommended daily intake
- Manganese and Potassium: 3% of the body’s recommended daily intake
- Magnesium and vitamin B3 : 2% of the body’s recommended daily requirement.
Although not a large amount, in general, coffee also contributes to supplementing the body with the above nutrients.
2.5. Reduces the risk of type II diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is currently one of the most common diseases, affecting millions of people worldwide. The mechanism of the disease is an increase in blood sugar due to insulin resistance or a decrease in the ability to produce insulin.
For a number of reasons, regular coffee drinkers can significantly reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Observational studies have shown that people who drink a lot of coffee have an increased risk of developing diabetes. Type 2 is 23-50% lower than, even in some studies, this risk is reduced by 67%.
2.6. Prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease and the leading cause of dementia , especially in the elderly worldwide.
There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. However, there are ways to prevent the disease before it occurs, including changing the diet, exercising… But few people know that drinking coffee is also very effective in preventing Alzheimer’s. Some studies show that people who drink a lot of coffee have a 65% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s than the general population.
2.7. Reduced risk of Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson ‘s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide, after Alzheimer’s. Parkinson’s can cause nerve cells to die, thereby reducing the ability to conduct nerve impulses by reducing the amount of dopamine in the brain. Like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease also has no specific treatment, which makes prevention much more important. Studies have shown that people who drink a lot of coffee have a 32-60% lower risk of Parkinson’s disease, the main factor being the caffeine in coffee.
2.8. Protect the liver
The liver is one of the most important organs in the body, so protecting it is essential. Several medical conditions can affect the liver including hepatitis, fatty liver …, which, if left untreated, can lead to cirrhosis . In a recent study, people who drank 4 cups of coffee a day seemed to have an 80% lower risk of cirrhosis than others.
2.9. Fights depression and improves mood
Depression is a serious mental disorder that reduces a person’s quality of life. Nowadays, depression is becoming more and more common. Fortunately, coffee was found to have the ability to prevent depression and improve mood in a positive way. In a 2011 Harvard study, women who drank four cups of coffee a day had a 20 percent lower risk of developing depression than other women.
2.10. Reduced risk of certain types of cancer
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world. The mechanism of cancer is the abnormal proliferation of certain types of cells in the body. Coffee has been shown to protect against certain types of cancer, especially liver cancer and colorectal cancer . Liver cancer is the third most common cause of cancer death in the world, while colorectal cancer ranks fourth. Studies show that coffee drinkers have a 40% lower risk of liver cancer and a 15% lower risk of colorectal cancer.
2.11. Reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke
Coffee has the ability to increase blood pressure , but the increase is relatively small and does not bring too great a effect and will be stable for people who drink coffee regularly. Many studies have shown that coffee does not increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, and even reduces the risk, especially stroke . Coffee drinkers have a 20% lower risk of stroke.
2.12. Increase longevity
Drinking coffee helps reduce the risk of a number of diseases, including serious diseases, thereby increasing life expectancy.
2.13. Slow down the aging process
Coffee is proven to be high in antioxidants, studies have shown that many people even get more antioxidants from coffee than from fruits and vegetables. In fact, coffee also shows itself as one of the healthiest drinks in the world.
Coffee is the most popular beverage in the world with many health benefits. A cup of coffee every morning not only helps you feel energetic, burn excess fat and improve physical fitness, but it can also reduce the risk of certain diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease. and Parkinson’s disease. In fact, coffee even helps increase longevity.