Who doesn’t love a cup of coffee? The rich taste that hits your taste buds on that first sip not to mention that intoxicating smell. Being one of the world’s most popular beverages, it comes as no surprise as to how many antioxidants and health benefits come in a cup of coffee.
Granted, coffee lovers may have a much lower risk of various serious diseases, it is also important to note that, like any other drug, one should not surpass three cups of coffee a day. If you didn’t know, here are some benefits of adding coffee to your diet:
Boosts your energy levelsCoffee is the number one beverage most people turn to in the morning to help them start their day and boost their energy levels. Coffee contains the stimulant caffeine, a psychoactive substance that speeds up the messages sent between our brain and body. In small amounts, caffeine can help you stay more alert and awake throughout the day. As a result, this may also improve your mood, boost your memory and improve your general mental function.
Helps burn fatAs has been previously established, coffee contains the stimulant caffeine that can also act as a fat-burning supplement. Caffeine will help boost your body's metabolism and burn fats much faster. Even though continued use of coffee may have no effect on your metabolism as time goes by, it will still blunt your appetite and help you eat less. Coffee can really come in handy when working on losing some weight.
Instantly improves physical performanceYou've probably noticed that most people like to take a cup of coffee before heading off to the gym or going to work. This is because within the first 5-20 minutes of coffee consumption, caffeine will immediately send signals to your nervous system that will immediately boost your energy levels and improve your physical performance. Coffee will increase the production of adrenaline which prepares your body for intense physical activities.
Lowers your risk of type II diabetesType II diabetes is a non-communicable disease that is currently a major health concern affecting many people all around the world. Since type II diabetes is caused by the reduction of insulin secretion in the body, according to studies, coffee contains a bioactive compound called cafestol that boosts the secretion of insulin and lowers your risk of type II diabetes. You might just consider that cup of coffee after all.
Reduces your risk of heart disease and strokeWe've seen the importance of working out frequently since the continuous exercises ensures constant blood flow and lowers risk of heart related diseases. These same benefits can be gotten from coffee as well. Caffeine increases your blood pressure, raises the levels of the hormone adrenalin that naturally increases blood pressure and mildly increases your heart rate. You are less likely to suffer from heart disease or stroke if you're a frequent coffee drinker.
Tip: Always accompany your cups of coffee with some physical activity to help you use up and manage the energy boost, It is also advisable to take it earlier in the day since caffeine can stay in your body for up to eight hours and this could interrupt your sleep pattern.