Sometimes I feel as though coffee gets a bad wrap but honestly there are so many incredible benefits. We wanted to reassure you of some real facts that will make any coffee regret vanish.
1. Coffee Can Improve Energy Levels and Make You Smarter
Coffee can help people feel less tired and increase energy levels (1, 2).
This is due to it containing the well known stimulant, caffeine, the most commonly consumed psychoactive substance in the world (3).
Caffeine is absorbed into the bloodstream and then travels into the brain (4).
Many controlled trials in humans show that coffee improves various aspects of brain function. This includes memory, mood, vigilance, energy levels, reaction times and general cognitive function (5, 6, 7).
2. Coffee Aids Fat Burning
Caffeine is one of the very few natural substances that have actually been proven to aid fat burning.
Several studies show that caffeine can boost the metabolic rate by 3-11% (8, 9).
Other studies show that caffeine can specifically increase the burning of fat, by as much as 10% in obese individuals and 29% in lean people (10).
Caffeine stimulates the nervous system, causing it to send signals to the fat cells to break down body fat (11, 12)
However, it is possible that these effects will diminish in long-term coffee drinkers.
3. Caffeine Improves Physical Performance
Caffeine increases Epinephrine (Adrenaline) levels in the blood (13, 14).
This is the "fight or flight" hormone, designed to make our bodies ready for intense physical exertion.
Caffeine makes the fat cells break down body fat, releasing them into the blood as free fatty acids and making them available as fuel (15, 16).
Given these effects, it is not surprising to see that caffeine can improve physical performance by 11-12%, on average (17, 18).
So I strongly advise a strong cup of Ethical Coffee 30 minutes before heading to the Gym.
4. There Are Essential Nutrients in Coffee
A single cup of coffee contains (19):
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2): 11% of the RDA.
- Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5): 6% of the RDA.
- Manganese and Potassium: 3% of the RDA.
- Magnesium and Niacin (B3): 2% of the RDA.
Although this may not seem like a big deal, most people are drinking more than one cup per day. If you drink 3-4, then these amounts quickly add up.
5. Coffee May Lower Your Risk of Type II Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes current affects about 300 million people worldwide.
It is characterized by elevated blood sugars in the context of insulin resistance or an inability to secrete insulin.
For some reason, coffee drinkers have a significantly reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The studies show that people who drink the most coffee have a 23-50% lower risk of getting this disease, one study showing a reduction as high as 67% (20, 21, 22, 23, 24).
According to a massive review that looked at data from 18 studies with a total of 457,922 individuals, each daily cup of coffee was associated with a 7% reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes (25).
6. Coffee May Protect You From Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia
Alzheimer's disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease and the leading cause of dementia worldwide.
This disease usually affects people over 65 years of age. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for Alzheimer's.
However, there are several things you can do to prevent the disease from showing up in the first place.
This includes the usual suspects like eating healthy and exercising, but drinking coffee may be incredibly effective as well.
Several studies show that coffee drinkers have up to a 65% lower risk of getting Alzheimer's disease (25, 26).
7. Caffeine May Lower The Risk of Parkinson's
Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, right after Alzheimer's.
It is caused by death of dopamine-generating neurons in the brain.
Same as with Alzheimer's, there is no known cure, making it important focus on prevention.
In studies, coffee drinkers have a much lower risk of developing Parkinson's disease, with a reduction in risk ranging from 32-60% (27, 28, 29, 30).
In this case, it appears to be the caffeine itself that is causing the effect. People who drink decaf don't have a lower risk of Parkinson's (31).
8. Coffee Appears to Have Protective Effects on The Liver
The liver is an amazing organ that carries out hundreds of important functions in the body.
Several common diseases primarily affect the liver, including hepatitis, fatty liver disease and others.
Many of these diseases can lead to a condition called cirrhosis, in which the liver has been largely replaced by scar tissue.
It turns out that coffee may protect against cirrhosis. People who drink 4 or more cups per day have up to an 80% lower risk (32, 33, 34).
9. Coffee Can Fight Depression and Make You Happier
Depression is a serious mental disorder that causes a significantly reduced quality of life.
In a Harvard study published in 2011, women who drank 4 or more cups per day had a 20% lower risk of becoming depressed (35).
Another study with 208,424 individuals found that those who drank 4 or more cups per day were 53% less likely to commit suicide (36).
10. Coffee Drinkers Have a Lower Risk of Some Types of Cancer
Cancer is one of the world's leading causes of death and is characterised by uncontrolled growth of cells in the body.
Coffee appears to be protective against two types of cancer... liver cancer and colorectal cancer.
Liver cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in the world, while colorectal cancer ranks fourth (37).
Studies show that coffee drinkers have up to a 40% lower risk of liver cancer (38, 39).
One study of 489,706 individuals found that those who drank 4-5 cups of coffee per day had a 15% lower risk of colorectal cancer (40).
11. Coffee is The Highest Sources of Antioxidants in The Western Diet
For people who eat a standard Western diet, coffee may actually be the healthiest aspect of the diet.
That's because coffee contains a massive amount of antioxidants.
In fact, studies show that most people get more antioxidants from coffee than both fruits and vegetables... combined (41, 42, 43).
The human body naturally produces free radicals and the antioxidants to counteract their damaging effects. (44).
12. Coffee May Lower The Risk of Stroke and Increase Heart Health
Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and Harvard School of Public Health, concluded that drinking coffee in moderation protects against heart failure. They defined 'in moderation' as 2 European cups (equivalent to two 8-ounce American servings) per day (45).
People who drank four European cups on a daily basis had an 11% lower risk of heart failure, compared to those who did not (46).
There is some evidence that women who drink coffee have a reduced risk of heart disease (47).
Some studies also show that coffee drinkers have a 20% lower risk of stroke (48, 49).
So coffee isn't as unhealthy as many people speculate. In fact it is really quite healthy.
*Disclaimer: Clearly many of these studies has limitations that must be considered and all evidence must be taken with a grain of salt as many of these claims are extremely hard to prove beyond any doubt.
We hope you enjoyed finding out about these health benefits. If you did please be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook for daily coffee information and eco hacks and be sure to check out the EcoCaffe range.