Many coffee drinkers see coffee as a guilty pick-me up that they use to get through the daily grind of work and household chores. While most love it, it is still often associated with headaches and mood-swings. However recent studies suggest drinking coffee can actually be pretty great for you – which means we can stop with the excuses and the crazy idea of cutting down how much we consume!
Here are some reasons to feel good about yourself when drinking coffee:
Coffee Helps With Liver Health
OK, OK – if you like to drink a little bit too much – coffee isn’t going to be your ‘knight in shining armour’. But without getting all scientific on you, studies do show that a few espressos here and there can actually have a positive effect on your liver. A study suggests that regular coffee drinkers tend to be less likely to suffer from liver cirrhosis and abnormal liver function. Great news for us coffee addicts!
The Level of Antioxidants
Most people know that fruit and veg contain high levels of antioxidants and many turn to green-tea when looking for a beverage full of antioxidants – but many are unaware that coffee could actually be better for you. Research suggests that when it comes to absorbing antioxidants the human body tends to get the most from coffee! The so called ‘flavonoids’ are known to carry anti-inflammatory and blood thinning benefits – the perfect excuse to drink coffee at your desk.
Coffee Brings Happiness
We all know this to be true! The happiness coffee brings relates to those wonderful antioxidants mentioned above rather than the ‘caffeine high’. The National Institute of Health found that compared to non-coffee drinkers, moderate coffee drinkers (3-5 cups a day) were around 10% less likely to suffer from depression. This links to the fact coffee lovers are noted to have lower levels of suicide as coffee aids the production of serotonin and dopamine resulting in an antidepressant effect.
Coffee Reduces the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes and Helps with Blood Sugar Management
No coffee is not a miracle worker – if you live off a diet of fizzy drinks and fast-food a few cups of coffee here and there is not going to help you. However it is a known fact that coffee can decrease the risk of the onset of diabetes by an astounding rate. Studies found that regular coffee drinkers had could reduce their chance of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 50%! So get drinking that quality coffee.
The Smell of Coffee Can Reduce Stress Levels
Ever heard the term ‘wake up and smell the coffee?’ Well perhaps you should be doing just that! The study found that the aroma of coffee can help with the amount of stress caused by sleep deprivation as opposed to stress in general. So strolling into a coffee shop at 7am could be just what you need to boost your day!
