Top Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Coffee It is loaded with antioxidants and beneficial nutrients that can improve your health. The studies show that coffee drinkers have a much lower risk of several serious diseases. Here are the top evidence-based health benefits of coffee, that have been confirmed in actual human studies. 1. Coffee Can Improve Energy Levels and Make You Smarter Coffee can help people feel less tired and increase energy levels This is because it contains a stimulant called caffeine, which is actually the most commonly consumed psychoactive substance in the world . After you drink coffee, the caffeine is absorbed into the bloodstream. From there, it travels into the brain In the brain, caffeine blocks an inhibitory neurotransmitter called Adenosine. When that happens, the amount of other neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and dopamine actually increases, leading to enhanced firing of neurons Many controlled trials in humans show that coffee improves various aspects of brain function. This includes memory, mood, vigilance, energy levels, reaction times and general cognitive function Bottom Line: Caffeine blocks an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, which leads to a stimulant effect. This improves energy levels, mood and various aspects of brain function. 2. Coffee Can Help You Burn Fat Did you know that caffeine is found in almost every commercial fat burning supplement? There’s a good reason for that… caffeine is one of the very few natural substances that have actually been proven to aid fat burning. Several studies show that caffeine can boost the metabolic rate by 3-11% Other studies show that caffeine can specifically increase the burning of fat, by as much as 10% in obese individuals and 29% in lean people However, it is possible that these effects will diminish in long-term coffee drinkers. Bottom Line: Several studies show that caffeine can increase fat burning in the body and boost the metabolic rate. 3. The Caffeine Can Drastically Improve Physical Performance Caffeine stimulates the nervous system, causing it to send signals to the fat cells to break down body fat (But caffeine also increases Epinephrine (Adrenaline) levels in the blood This is the “fight or flight” hormone, designed to make our bodies ready for intense physical exertion. Caffeine makes the fat cells break down body fat, releasing them into the blood as free fatty acids and making them available as fuel Given these effects, it is not surprising to see that caffeine can improve physical performance by 11-12%, on average Because of this, it makes sense to have a strong cup of coffee about a half an hour before you head to the gym. Bottom Line: Caffeine can increase adrenaline levels and release fatty acids from the fat tissues. It also leads to significant improvements in physical performance. 4. There Are Essential Nutrients in Coffee Coffee is more than just black water. Many of the nutrients in the coffee beans do make it into the final drink. A single cup of coffee contains Riboflavin (Vitamin B2): 11% of the RDA. Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5): 6% of the RDA. Manganese and Potassium: 3% of the RDA. Magnesium and Niacin (B3): 2% of the RDA. Although this may not seem like a big deal, most people are drinking more than one cup per day. If you drink 3-4, then these amounts quickly add up. Bottom Line: Coffee contains several important nutrients, including Riboflavin, Pantothenic Acid, Manganese, Potassium, Magnesium and Niacin.
Posted on: Thu, 06 Mar 2014 02:26:14 +0000
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