Coffee is a drink that’s popular around the world, but not everyone knows it has a number of different health benefits. The caffeine in the coffee gives you a boost, and it also has antioxidants and other substances that help protect against disease.
Caffeine can be a mood booster in small amounts, but it can also make you irritable or nervous when it comes in high doses. It can also have negative effects on your sleep. If you drink your coffee too late in the day, it may affect your sleep pattern and increase your risk of insomnia.
The caffeine in coffee helps give your brain a boost of energy, which can help you stay focused and get things done. It increases the levels of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine in your brain. It can even boost physical performance, says nutrition expert Rachel Beckerman, a registered dietitian at the American College of Sports Medicine.
It’s a good source of vitamins and minerals such as B5 (for making red blood cells), manganese (for bone development and metabolism), potassium (for lower blood pressure), magnesium (for energy production and sleep) and niacin (for converting vitamin B5 into usable energy). And it’s a great pre-workout beverage, boosting your metabolism.
Other health benefits include a decreased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and heart failure. This is because the caffeine in coffee helps the body process glucose better.
Increasing your intake of coffee can also decrease the chances of getting liver cancer, because it increases the levels of enzymes in your liver that prevent breakage of DNA strands. It can also help ward off Parkinson’s disease, which is a common neurological condition that causes problems with movement and balance.
In addition, a 2016 study showed that people who drink coffee on a regular basis had a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive disorders. It also lowered their risk of developing the more severe Parkinson’s-related forms of the disease, such as parkinson’s dementia and progressive non-Parkinson’s dementia.
Some studies also show that coffee can reduce the symptoms of depression. It’s also associated with a lower risk of suicide.
There are a variety of different types of coffee, including decaf, which contains fewer chemicals. It’s also a better choice for those with certain health conditions, such as kidney disease or diabetes.
Depending on the type of coffee you drink, it could provide other health benefits such as supporting weight management and lowering the risk of dementia. Several studies have shown that coffee can also help prevent certain cancers, such as colon and liver cancer.
While the majority of these benefits are attributed to the caffeine in coffee, many other nutrients are also found in coffee. These include vitamins B5 and C, potassium, niacin and magnesium.
Another benefit of coffee is that it can promote weight loss and improve body fat distribution. It can also help with the reduction of total cholesterol, triglycerides and blood sugar.