For a very long time, coffee was frowned upon, with claims that it stunts growth and can lead to a range of health concerns. Thanks to current research and data, however, these negative claims have been proven to be false. In fact, the exact opposite is true: coffee is actually good for you in many ways.
So if enjoying a cup of joe in the morning is your guilty pleasure, you don’t have to feel guilty about it after all (as long as you’re not loading it with sugar and creamer). Let’s take a look at three ways that coffee is actually good for your health. Cheers to all the coffee lovers out there.
#1: Coffee can help you shed fat.
Let’s face it––many of us could do with shedding a few pounds. Not only does this help us look better, but shedding fat comes with a range of health benefits as well. Luckily, coffee can help with that.
Thanks to caffeine’s stimulatory effect on the body’s central nervous system, it helps to raise metabolism while increasing the oxidation of fatty acids. Since coffee contains a healthy level of caffeine, it is a fat-burning powerhouse. It also gives you more energy in the gym, which can further aid your fat-loss efforts.
#2: Coffee reduces your risk of premature death.
Basically, coffee can make you live longer. And yes, it’s absolutely true. In a large modern study, researchers found that those who drank coffee had a lower mortality rate compared to people who don’t drink coffee.
#3: Coffee provides a load of antioxidants and some nutrients.
You may think that a delicious cup of black water is only good for giving you energy, but it turns out coffee is more than that. Coffee beans naturally contain a good amount of nutrients, such as vitamin B5, riboflavin, thiamine, niacin, potassium, and manganese. Although some nutrients are lost in the roasting process, a decent amount of it still makes it to your cup.
On top of that, coffee contains an amazing amount of antioxidants, which are extremely helpful in reducing free radicals in the body and preventing disease. In fact, coffee is actually one of the best sources of antioxidants in the modern Western diet, even more than you’d get from fruits and vegetables.
#4: Coffee can make you happier and less likely to be depressed.
Especially in today’s world, depression is a serious disorder that is more prevalent than ever. Depression not only affects your mood, but also affects the way your body works, debilitating its ability to perform otherwise normal processes as it should.
Research shows that coffee can actually help with this. In a 2011 Harvard study, researchers found that women who drank 4 or more cups of coffee each day were 20 percent less likely to become depressed. Another similar study found coffee drinkers (of at least 4 cups a day) were more than 50 percent less likely to die from suicide.
