The Pleasures and Benefits of a Great Cup of Coffee
Reaching for that first cup of coffee in the morning is a ritual favored by many. Even those who skip breakfast are often eager to enjoy that first jolt of caffeine. Like many foods and beverages, coffee went through its period of being demonized as detrimental to a person's health a couple of decades ago. But, that concern is long gone now. Science has given coffee a whole new image. Coffee, in addition to being the first delightful taste of the morning, brings with it a host of mental and physical health benefits. So, the next time you pour yourself a cup, enjoy how good it tastes and remember how good it is for you.
First and foremost, you probably drink that first, and possibly second, cup of coffee for the wide-eyed pick-me-up it provides. Caffeine stimulates the brain and gets those mental juices flowing. If it did nothing more than jump start your morning engine, that would almost be enough. But, science has discovered so many more benefits to coffee.
More is better
Numerous studies have shown a direct link between drinking one or more cups of coffee a day and a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Apparently, this is one case where more is better. While one cup a day is beneficial, an extra cup or two each day has shown even more dramatic reductions in type 2 diabetes diagnoses.
Coffee is your liver's best friend. Coffee consumption has been shown to reduce the incidences of liver cancer and liver disease. So, if you enjoy your favorite alcoholic beverages on a regular basis, you might be wise to give your liver a break with regular indulgences in coffee. Both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee have been shown to produce the same improved results.
Your liver isn't the only organ to benefit from your coffee habit. Studies have shown that a couple of cups of coffee a day can lower the incidence of heart failure significantly. Regular coffee drinkers can cut their risk of developing colorectal cancer, especially in those who consume more than two cups a day. Research is ongoing and showing significant correlations between coffee consumption and reduced cases of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
A good source of antioxidants
Coffee has really been under the scientific microscope. It seems that coffee provides a wonderful source of antioxidants unequaled by nearly every other source. No wonder the human body benefits in so many ways. All of these benefits in disease reduction and mood and energy level improvements contribute to an increase in both quantity and quality of life.
Not all cups of coffee are created equal. In its purest form, consumed black or with a dash of skim milk for color and no added sweetener, coffee is a boon to your weight control efforts. Coffee, by itself, is virtually calorie-free. In order to obtain the most benefits from the beverage, without the negative impact of extra calories, you should avoid the designer coffee shops, with their creams and flavorings and exotic names.
As with all good things, there can be at least one good reason to monitor your coffee consumption. Caffeine is a very effective stimulant. This is good up to a point, but all that extra stimulation can wreak havoc on your sleep patterns. If you find that coffee has a tendency to keep you up at night, either stop drinking it early in the afternoon or switch to decaf.
Frosina A. Ivanovic is a content marketing specialist and writer. She’s passionate about quality coffee, travel, wellness, and digital marketing. You can connect with Frosina on LinkedIn or her website, Zhillmatic.