Coffee and Health... What do the experts say?

Before we begin to recap the benefits of coffee for the human body, we remind you that from a nutritional point of view it does not provide any value (only if you add milk and sugar, of course...) and its most immediate effects are a stimulation of the central nervous system and it facilitates the secretion of urine, that is, it has diuretic effects. It should also be noted that any positive effect of caffeine is linked to the consumption of a specific quantity that should not be exceeded.

1. IT IS RICH IN ANTIOXIDANTS

One of the greatest benefits of black coffee is that it is a drink rich in antioxidants, especially polyphenols, which are partly absorbed by the body.

Coffee is one of the plant products richest in antioxidant compounds. These antioxidants are especially present in green coffee beans and although some of them are eliminated by roasting, the truth is that roasted coffee is still a good source of them.

Coffee is especially rich in polyphenols that act against free radicals and some heavy metals that cause tissue aging and help prevent diseases and maintain good overall health.

2. ACTIVATE THE MIND

Caffeine is the component of coffee that stimulates and activates us. It is also responsible for improving some cognitive functions, such as speeding up brain processes and improving memory. One of the great benefits of drinking coffee is that it helps us to be more awake, attentive and focused throughout the day.

3. COFFEE AGAINST SPORADIC HEADACHES

Caffeine, due to its vasodilatory properties, helps fight headaches and increases the effect of analgesics. Therefore, among the benefits of coffee with milk is that it can also help eliminate mild headaches.

However, drinking more than 3 cups of coffee a day is not recommended for those who regularly suffer from migraines, as it can be one of the triggers, among many other factors.

4. IT IS SUITABLE FOR ATHLETES

Coffee is also healthy for people who practice sports or have to make a significant physical effort. Caffeine acts on the nervous system and causes people to perceive fatigue later and, therefore, increases performance. In addition, among the benefits of coffee is the fact that it helps to be alert and more concentrated, two factors that are also important for athletes.

5. CONTRIBUTES TO WEIGHT LOSS

Caffeine is found in many compounds, creams and products designed to help you lose weight by burning fat. This is because caffeine accelerates thermogenesis, a metabolic process in the body that helps burn more fat. Therefore, coffee is useful to help you lose weight, but always as a complement to a balanced diet rich in plant products and physical exercise. In addition, in these cases we should drink black coffee, without sugar or milk.

It has often been pointed out that one of the benefits of giving up coffee is avoiding water retention, which is another factor in weight loss. The truth is that coffee, like other energy drinks, can help to retain more water in the body, but it is not the only one. There are many other factors that influence water retention, such as salt consumption, a sedentary lifestyle, certain medications, and not drinking enough water during the day.

6. IT CAN PROTECT AGAINST CANCER, STROKE AND CORONARY DISEASES.

The largest study on coffee consumption that has been carried out recently was the one carried out by the National Cancer Institute of the USA in 2018. Its conclusions on the benefits of coffee are surprising: the greater the coffee consumption, the lower the mortality rate from cancer, stroke and coronary heart disease. It is an ambitious observational study whose conclusions cannot be taken as definitive but it does provide relevant and interesting information for further studies on the properties of coffee and its effects on health.

7. COMBAT ALZHEIMER'S AND PARKINSON'S

For several years, the relationship between coffee consumption and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's has been studied. The conclusion of all of them is that regular coffee consumption reduces the probability of suffering from these diseases in the future.

8. REDUCES THE RISK OF TYPE 2 DIABETES

Another health benefit of drinking coffee is that it reduces the chances of developing type 2 diabetes. Several studies link the consumption of three or four cups of coffee a day, even decaffeinated, with a 25% lower chance of developing this type of diabetes. The mechanisms by which coffee influences the development of this disease are not clear, but it could be due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and thermogenic effects.

9. IT IS GOOD FOR THE HEART

We have already seen that one of the benefits of coffee is that it protects against coronary heart disease. Coffee has traditionally been associated with a higher risk of heart disease due to the stimulating effect of caffeine. The truth is that not only is it not dangerous, but drinking coffee is good for the heart and can even be taken by some people with high blood pressure, since its effect on hypertension is not as significant as was previously assumed.

A study published in the American Heart Association journal indicates that drinking up to four cups of coffee a day has a cardioprotective effect, thanks to antioxidants. In this sense, decaffeinated coffee has the same effect on the heart without the discomfort that caffeine can cause in some people.

10. THE PLEASURE OF DRINKING A GOOD COFFEE

There is no doubt that coffee has properties and direct benefits for health… but drinking a good coffee is also a pleasure… the gesture of waking up every morning, to start the day off on the right foot… a coffee to drink with your friend or at social gatherings… There is no doubt that coffee puts us in a good mood, and this is also a great benefit for our health.