Coffee may do more than provide an early morning pick-me-up. Proponents tout their antioxidant activity and brain-boosting capabilities, while opponents highlight downsides such as insomnia and indigestion, increased heart rate, and higher blood pressure. However, the latest scientific evidence offers a wealth of positive news for coffee enthusiasts. Here are reasons why drinking Bellman coffee could be more healthy than you think.
- Coffee Is A Wealthy Resource Of Antioxidants.
Green tea and cocoa are the two antioxidant stars, but coffee has more antioxidants than coffee. Scientists have discovered approximately 1,000 antioxidants in coffee beans unprocessed, with hundreds more that develop during roasting. Numerous studies have indicated that coffee is a primary source of antioxidants in the diets of many people.
- Caffeine Gives You A Short-Term Memory Enhancement.
Austrian researchers observed a rise in brain activity in volunteers who were given 100mg (or about the equivalent of a single cup) of caffeine. They measured this using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a memory task. Researchers found that caffeinated volunteers had improved memory skills and reaction time compared to those who received a placebo. Brain activity did not increase.
- Coffee May Help Guard In Opposition To Cognitive Decline.
Regular coffee intake may provide a temporary increase in brain activity, memory, and could help to prevent cognitive decline linked with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. One promising Finnish study found that daily consumption of three to five cups of coffee at midlife led to a 65 percent decrease in the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s. The study authors found no evidence of a cognitive decline in tea consumption.
There is a lot of speculation about how coffee can help to prevent or slow down cognitive decline. One theory suggests that caffeine reduces beta-amyloid plaque buildup, which could contribute to the development and progression of Alzheimer’s. Coffee drinking is thought to be associated with a decreased chance of developing dementia-causing type 2 diabetes (a risk factor for the disease).
- Coffee Is Good For The Heart.
A landmark Dutch study analyzed data from over 37,000 people for 13 years and found that moderate coffee drinkers had a 20 percent lower chance of developing heart disease than those who consumed heavy or light coffee.
- Coffee Could Help Reduce Certain Types Of Cancer.
Men who drink coffee are less likely to develop aggressive prostate cancer. The Harvard School of Public Health has also found that women who consume four or more cups of coffee per week have a lower risk of developing endometrial cancer than women who only consume one cup of coffee daily. Researchers also discovered ties between regular coffee intake and lower rates for colon, breast, liver, and rectal cancers.
- Coffee Could Lower Your Chance Of Developing Type 2 Diabetes.
There is increasing evidence that coffee drinking may be linked to a lower chance of developing diabetes. A 2009 study revealed that coffee drinking has a significant impact on the risk of developing diabetes. In epidemiological studies, heavy coffee drinkers (those who consume four or more cups per day) were found to have a 50 percent lower likelihood of developing diabetes compared to non-drinkers and light coffee drinkers.