Coffee is a very popular beverage across the globe, with a range of impressive health benefits.
Your daily cup of coffee boosts your energy, burns fat, and improves your physical performance.
Coffee was first discovered in the early 15th century. The only reason coffee got famous is because of its aroma and taste.
What Makes Coffee Good for You?
Coffee contains antioxidants that have been shown to reduce internal inflammation.
The caffeine in coffee, which is the main psychoactive stimulant substance, contributes to several health benefits. Caffeine is also available in capsule form.
Athletes are using it as an energy-boosting supplement. In addition, people who drink coffee have a lower body fat percentage.
Here are 15 coffee health benefits and side effects.
1. Coffee contains nutrients
One cup of regular coffee contains:
- 2.4 calories
- 0.3 grams of protein
- 0 grams of fat
- 0 grams of sugar
- 0.5 milligrams pantothenic acid 6% of the daily value.
- 0.2 milligrams vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 10% of the daily value.
- 110 milligrams of potassium 3% of the daily value.
- 0.1 milligrams of manganese 3% of the daily value.
- 7 milligrams magnesium 2% of the daily value.
- 0.5 milligrams vitamin B3 (Niacin) 2% of the daily value.
These nutrients may not appear to be much, but drinking 3 to 5 cups daily may affect your daily value by 10 to 20%.
2. Coffee can boost metabolism
The caffeine in coffee can increase your metabolic rate, which is the pace at which your body converts calories into energy.
Caffeine may also help with fat burning during exercise. In one 2018 study, they gave participants 3 mg of caffeine per kilogram of bodyweight.
Caffeine consumption changed their caloric expenditure. Participants burned more body fat during exercise than carbohydrates alone.
However, caffeine can affect every individual differently. Many people can tolerate caffeine well during exercise. Some people may experience caffeine side effects such as headaches, nausea, and motion during exercise.
3. Coffee can boost energy
The caffeine in coffee is a natural stimulant that speeds up the messages between the body and the brain.
In proper doses, it is a part of a healthy diet that can make you feel more energetic. Evidence shows it stimulates the central nervous system and gives you mental alertness.
People who drink coffee feel less tired.
After drinking coffee, some people may find their self, increasing productivity while some will scroll mobile screen rather than doing work (1).
4. Boosts physical performance
The purine alkaloid properties of coffee, such as caffeine, can amplify stamina. There are many people aware of its impressive effect, and they drink a cup of black coffee before their workouts.
Drinking coffee has been linked to greater strength and endurance during exercise.
For best results, drink 1–2 cups (240–475 mL) of water one hour before your workout. However, in my case, it gives me a mild headache during the workout.
This may be because of the increased blood pressure induced by caffeine.
Make sure you are not allergic to caffeine, as it may cause serious side effects during exercise.
5. Prevents diabetes
Coffee drinkers have a low risk of diabetes mellitus. Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that causes symptoms such as high blood sugar, frequent hunger, incredible thirst, and rapid urination.
In addition, regular coffee drinkers are less likely to feel hungry than non-coffee drinkers (2). Caffeine has a unique effect on each individual.
If you have diabetes, decreasing coffee in your diet may be beneficial. The effects of caffeine on insulin may be associated with sugar levels.
For some people with diabetes, about 200 milligrams of caffeine, or the equivalent of one to two cups of black coffee, may cause this effect.
6. Prevents heart disease
The contribution of caffeine to heart disease reduction is conflicting. The caffeine in coffee can increase blood pressure, which is not good for the heart.
But for a regular coffee drinker, it is a slight increase in blood pressure (3).
However, coffee is a source of antioxidants, and it plays a vital role in balancing cholesterol by decreasing inflammation inside the body.
A coffee drinker has a low risk of cardiovascular and stroke diseases.
The point here is:
How much coffee should I drink?
What is the best time to drink coffee?
Most experts recommend drinking 1 cup of plain, unsweetened coffee (containing 100 mg of caffeine) in the morning, right after you wake up.
Drinking too much coffee can be harmful for people who are at risk of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, the amount of caffeine you ingest matters.
7. Good for the liver
Coffee can lower the risk of fibrotic illness in several chronic liver conditions, which may lower the replication of the hepatitis C virus (4).
The liver plays a fundamental role inside the body. It regulates the balance of hormones, such as cortisone, thyroid, and other adrenal hormones.
Common chronic liver diseases, such as fatty liver and hepatitis, create hormonal imbalances. One study shows that regular coffee consumption may protect against liver cirrhosis.
However, we need more studies to understand the correlation between coffee and liver disease prevention (5).
8. Can fight depression
Depression is a chemical imbalance in the human brain.
Caffeine blocks these brain receptors from binding with a chemical (adenosine), which promotes the feeling of tiredness and depression.
Studies show an increase or decrease in brain chemicals doesn’t always lead to mental disorders, but it could be because of multiple problems, such as stressful life events, facing hurdles, and other mental problems.
In one study, people who drink coffee were happier than non-coffee drinkers. The antioxidants in caffeine, such as theophylline and theobromine, belong to a family of organic compounds called xanthines.
These antioxidants can cross the brain-blood barrier and decrease oxidative stress (6).
9. Coffee may prevent cancer
Coffee doesn’t treat cancer, but it plays a vital role in preventing various cancers such as lung cancer, skin cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, and brain cancer.
The study shows people who drink 3 to 5 cups of coffee can reduce their cancer risk by 50%.
Studies have been investigating the effects of coffee on cancer for decades. However, there is still no concrete evidence available about coffee and cancer prevention.
The antioxidant properties in coffee can decrease oxidation caused by free radicals in the body.
Cancer is a genetic disease caused by variations in genes that control how our cells behave, grow, and divide.
Therefore, it is hard to assume the effects of coffee on cancer prevention (7).
10. Coffee lovers live longer
There are many other factors that contribute to longevity, such as healthy habits and an active lifestyle.
However, people who drink coffee are less likely to get sick and have a lower rate of health problems.
The study shows people who drink coffee have a 25% lower risk of premature death than people who don’t drink coffee at all.
Drinking two to three cups of coffee a day may keep you healthy and energetic.
The psychoactive and antioxidant effects of caffeine are believed to decrease oxidative stress.
Oxidative stress (OS) is the major cause of chronic diseases and the aging process (8).
11. Protect you from alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s is a common neurodegenerative disease, and it is one of the leading causes of dementia.
The symptoms of this disease are cognitive decline, short-term memory loss, and forgetting important life events.
The study shows that coffee can help balance brain chemicals and may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s in people who have been drinking coffee for a long time.
In another study, people who drank 3-5 cups of coffee daily had a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by 65%.
They concluded that drinking coffee is associated with a lower risk of mental health problems in later life.
Caffeine’s stimulating effects on the nervous system are well established. However, the long-term effects of caffeine on the nervous system have not been clear.
Thus, we need even more large-scale studies to find out caffeine’s long-term effects on age related cognitive decline (9, 10).
12. Protects against parkinson’s
Parkinson’s disease is another neurodegenerative disorder that affects dopamine-producing neurons in the brain. The symptoms typically appear gradually and worsen.
People with Parkinson’s may have trouble walking as the condition develops. They may also have mental and behavioral changes, sleep issues, depression, memory problems, talking problems, and weariness.
Scientists’ research shows that caffeine can increase dopamine in the brain, and it is associated with a significantly lower risk of PD.
Although there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, medications, and other therapies can only ease the symptoms to some point.
People who love to drink coffee may have a reduced risk of PD at their late age (11).
13. Reduces muscle pain
According to a study, caffeine can help in pain modulation because of its influence on adenosine receptors, which play a key role in pain perception and can help relieve pain.
Certain compounds in coffee bind and block adenosine receptors, which can provide pain-relieving benefits.
Coffee also boosts the release of dopamine and beta-endorphins, which are neurotransmitters in the body that work as natural painkillers.
In addition, hypnic headache is a condition that affects people in their 40s and 50s. Coffee may also reduce muscle pain and headaches (12).
14. Can make DNA stronger
There are many factors, such as diet and chemical exposure, that can cause modifications in DNA methylation that alter gene expression.
Caffeinated beverages such as coffee and tea are two examples of pharmacologically active exposures.
Coffee has been shown to reduce inflammation and alter oestrogen metabolism. People who drink coffee are less likely to get chronic diseases, but it is not clear why.
A European journal of nutrition found that coffee can protect the body from oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can harm DNA.
Hence, coffee plays a crucial role in protecting these DNA cells (13).
15. Contains soluble fiber
Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that the body can’t digest. Carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, but fiber stays intact in your digestive system.
Some reports say that one cup of coffee contains approximately 1.5 grams of soluble fiber.
Coffee can’t replace whole grains and vegetable fibers, but it can improve digestion and help the stomach absorb vitamins and minerals from the food you consume every day.
Coffee can activate the digestive system by pushing food through and making you poop.
Side Effects of Coffee
When consumed in moderation—3 cups per day or less—coffee is safe for most healthy adults.
Too much coffee can have side effects, such as causing insomnia, nervousness, stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, and an increase in heart rate.
Pregnant or breast-feeding women should talk to their doctor before consuming caffeinated beverages.
People who are on certain medications should also avoid coffee (14).
Coffee contains nutrients that can increase energy and physical performance. It is a stimulant that increases the transmission of messages between the body and the brain. It can stimulate the central nervous system and increase mental alertness. It has also been linked to increased strength and endurance during physical activity. Caffeine, on the other hand, affects each person differently, and some people may experience caffeine side effects during exercise such as headaches, nausea, and motion sickness. Drink 240–475 mL of coffee an hour before your workout for the best results. Caffeine can also boost dopamine levels in the brain, reduce muscle pain, and strengthen DNA. Coffee may also reduce inflammation, making you less likely to get sick.
Conclusion
Coffee has been extensively researched for its many health benefits. Drinking coffee can boost energy levels, promote weight loss, improve athletic performance.
Some people, such as pregnant or breastfeeding women, children and adolescents, and people with certain health conditions, may need to limit their intake.
Drinking coffee in moderation has been linked to several health benefits and is safe for most adults.