Once you find that perfect coffee, it’s hard not to drink it every chance you get. Feeling a little groggy when you wake up in the morning? Hitting that afternoon slump at work? Or maybe you just want an iced coffee to cool you off on a hot summer day. Your favorite cup of coffee is great if you need a little pick-me-up, but it can do so much more for you. There have been a number of studies conducted on the health benefits of coffee, and what they have found are some surprising ways that coffee helps our bodies and our minds.
Mood + Energy
Do you ever feel like you’re just happier after you’ve had your morning cup of coffee? It’s not a coincidence. Coffee gives you more than just an energy boost; it actually can improve your mood! That’s because coffee stimulates the release of dopamine and serotonin, the neurotransmitters responsible for pleasure and happiness. Drinking coffee regularly also has been shown to lower your risk of depression. In a study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health, researchers found that women who drank four or more cups of coffee per day were 20 percent less likely to experience depression than those who didn’t drink coffee. The next time you reconsider that extra cup of coffee in the morning, think twice as it may be the answer to an even more productive day than anticipated!
Antioxidants + Disease Prevention
If you thought green tea and cocoa were the antioxidant superstars, think again. Coffee shows more antioxidant activity than both of them. Unprocessed coffee beans already have roughly 1,000 antioxidants, but then hundreds more are created during the roasting process. So what’s the big deal with antioxidants anyway? Antioxidants are natural substances that can limit and even prevent cell damage caused by free radicals, which scientists believe can contribute to aging, cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Studies have also shown that regularly drinking coffee can decrease a person’s risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Memory + Brainpower
Who knew that coffee could improve your memory and give you a cognitive boost? It’s true. The caffeine content in coffee stimulates areas of your brain associated with memory and concentration, improving your short term memory. An Austrian study found that volunteers who received a dose of 100 milligrams of caffeine — roughly the amount in one cup of coffee — had a surge in brain activity, improved memory skills and improved reaction times while performing memory-related tasks. The cognitive benefits of coffee are so powerful that researchers believe coffee drinkers have a 65 percent lower risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease.
Weight Loss + Recovery
The health benefits of coffee just keep getting better and better. For those trying to lose a few pounds or simply maintain their current weight, keeping up with their daily coffee habits could be the trick. Firstly, the caffeine stimulates your body’s metabolism and thermogenesis, the way your body produces heat from metabolized food and thereby burning calories. Secondly, coffee helps battle fatigue, which researchers showed allowed study participants to exercise longer. And lastly, coffee can help you recover from those intense workouts. In addition to fighting off fatigue, coffee also strengthens muscle contractions, reducing the perception of pain after exercising.Take your workout to the next level with some Kohana coffee and reap the benefits both inside and out!
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