5 Health Benefits of Coffee
Are you part of the 54% of Americans that drink coffee daily? It may be helping more than just walking you up! Check out these 5 reasons why coffee could be beneficial to add to your daily routine.
Survival juice, procaffeinating, happiness in a cup, liquid wisdom... we've heard them all. But what's the deal with all of these health benefits that we keep hearing about? We've compiled some of the top trends and broken them down by science - so that you can have your coffee and drink it too.
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Improved Energy Levels - For some, caffeine and improved energy levels might be a no-brainer. But how does it actually work? Once caffeine is absorbed into your bloodstream and travels to the brain, it blocks a neurotransmitter called adenosine. Blocking adenosine leads to a stimulant effect from neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine increased firing.
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Burn Fat - Caffeine is a crazy thing, not only does it energize you but it also boosts your metabolic rate anywhere from 3-11%. By boosting your metabolism, your body will increase fat burning as well. This happens from your stimulated nervous system sending fat cells signals to break down body fat. Important to note - your body may develop a tolerance and long term may lose or reduce its metabolism boosting and fat burning qualities.
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Top of Your Game - The caffeine found in your daily cup of joe can improve your performance at the gym. The "fight or flight" hormone response comes from increased epinephrine (adrenaline) in your body that can actually boost your workout. When these levels are increased, they release fatty acids from the fat tissues that acts as fuel for your body and preps it for exercise! Next time, try drinking a cup 30 minutes before heading to the gym!
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Nutrition - Turns out coffee beans are more than just caffeine! A cup of coffee contains nutrients like riboflavin, essential B vitamins, manganese, potassium, magnesium, and niacin. These nutrients are important for daily health and depending on how much coffee you drink, the nutrients can add up quickly!
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Happy & Healthy - Coffee can make you feel happier, not only because of the caffeine but also because of the antioxidants found in coffee. In a 2005 study Americans get more antioxidants from coffee than anything else. This is because our bodies absorb the antioxidants from coffee easier than fruits or vegetables.
Just be sure to keep in mind these benefits are from the coffee bean itself, which can also be easily offset with the addition of sweeteners, creamers, and syrups. So enjoy your next cup of joe and try to minimize the extras in your cup!
How do you enjoy your morning cup of coffee?
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