Why should you drink Turkish coffee? Turkish coffee is unfiltered, meaning it contains a higher amount of caffeine and other ingredients that can have multiple health benefits.
The difference between regular coffee and Turkish coffee is its making method and taste.
Other substances, such as cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, vanilla powder, and cinnamon, are the key ingredients in Turkish coffee.
Traditionally, Turkish coffee is brewed in a pot called a cezve. Cezve is a little long-handled pot with a pouring lip that is designed for making Turkish coffee.
They make the pot of brass or copper, although it can also be made of silver or gold.
The preparation method of this coffee comes from Turkey and Iran, but it is popular in many countries, including the Middle East and Europe.
The best part about Turkish coffee is that you can make it in your own kitchen by mixing ground arabica coffee beans with water and sugar and bringing the liquid to a foamy, boiling point.
Ingredients such as cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, vanilla powder, and cinnamon are optional. In this article, we will walk you through the health benefits of Turkish coffee and its effects on physical performance.
Table of Contents
Improves Performance
The main substance of Turkish coffee is caffeine, which is a well-studied natural stimulant capable of boosting mental and physical performance. Therefore, Turkish coffee provides a hefty dose of caffeine, which can benefit athletes in particular.
A study discovered that athletes who consumed Turkish coffee had significant performance improvements. Turkish coffee can help with endurance and energy during strenuous exercise (1).
Protects the Liver
The liver plays an important role by filtering the blood coming from the digestive tract, before passing it to the rest of the body. It controls hormones like cortisone, thyroid, and other adrenal hormones.
Liver problems such as hepatitis and fatty liver disease produce hormonal imbalances. According to some studies, the caffeine in Turkish coffee can provide potential liver benefits by lowering the risk of liver diseases.
When you drink Turkish coffee, the caffeine produces a molecule called paraxanthine, which can slow the formation of scar tissue in fibrosis. This may also prevent liver cancer, cirrhosis caused by alcohol, non-alcohol-related fatty liver disease, and hepatitis C (2, 3, 4, 5, 6).
Protects the Brain
The caffeine in Turkish coffee is a protective factor in dementia and Alzheimer’s disease and can provide various mental health benefits. Alzheimer’s disease is a widespread neurological disease and one of the primary causes of dementia.
Cognitive decline, short-term memory loss, and forgetting key life events are symptoms of this condition. According to the study, coffee can help regulate brain chemicals and may lower the risk of mental disease in people who have been consuming coffee.
Another study found that people who drank 3-5 cups of coffee per day had a 65% lower incidence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). They concluded that drinking coffee may also lower the risk of mental health problems in old age.
The antioxidants in caffeine can cross the blood-brain barrier, which makes it beneficial for brain health and may also prevent depression (7, 8, 9).
Contains Essential Compounds
Turkish coffee is unfiltered, which means it contains a greater amount of useful bioactive compounds such as chlorogenic acids, which are the antioxidants beneficial to health.
For instance, chlorogenic acids can fight inflammation, blood sugar, cholesterol levels, and high blood pressure. Some studies suggest that these ingredients in Turkish coffee can favor the human body in various ways.
Coffee also comprises other strong compounds, which can also decrease inflammation, fight infection, and promote heart health (10, 11, 12).
Protects Against Diseases
Drinking Turkish coffee may decrease the risk of certain diseases, including diabetes and heart disease. A study shows that consuming one cup of coffee a day can decrease the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 7%.
Another study discovered that three to five cups of coffee per day can decrease the risk of heart disease by 15%.
However, regular coffee consumption can reduce the risk of depression, liver cancer, endometrial cancer, and liver cirrhosis (13, 14, 15, 16, 17).
The Cardamom in Turkish Coffee
Turkish coffee is often prepared using cardamom, a delicious spice with several health benefits. Cardamom includes strong antioxidants that can reduce inflammation in the body.
One animal study shows that cardamom extract can block substances such as TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor) and IL-6 (interleukin 6).
These substances can increase inflammation, which can lead to chronic health problems (18).
Side Effects
The main substance in Turkish coffee is caffeine, which is a drug that can increase your mood and mental and physical performance.
Consuming caffeine at low-to-moderate levels is OK for most people. However, consuming too much coffee may have some potential side effects.
Because of the sugar content, which can have negative health effects. Drinking sweetened coffee will not damage your health.
Frequent consumption of any sugary beverage may boost your risk of several health problems, such as obesity, elevated concentrations of triglycerides, and type 2 diabetes.
To reap the health benefits of coffee, drink it without sugar to avoid negative effects. The high content of caffeine is another potential downside of Turkish coffee.
Some individuals who are susceptible to caffeine may experience sleep disruption, anxiety, heart palpitations, and increased blood pressure. (19, 20, 21, 22)
Conclusion
Turkish coffee is unfiltered, meaning it has a greater amount of caffeine and other compounds, which can provide several health benefits. However, individuals susceptible to caffeine may want to avoid this coffee.
The best part about Turkish coffee is that you can make it in your own kitchen. To reap the health benefits of Turkish coffee, make sure you drink it without sugar.
Last but not least, avoid drinking coffee in the evening as it may disturb your sleeping routine.