10 Health Benefits of Coffee
Is coffee one of the “guilty pleasures” in your otherwise healthy diet? If so, relax. Coffee has an amazing number of health benefits. Don’t take our word for it, though. Science confirms the health benefits of coffee. Here are 10 reasons why coffee is good for you.
1) Coffee may make you smarter
6) Coffee is good for your liver
A number of studies suggest that regular consumption of coffee can reduce the risk of developing cirrhosis of the liver by up to 80%. Cirrhosis is a disease that often afflicts heavy drinkers. One 22 year study of 125,000 heavy drinkers showed that as little as one cup of coffee per day lowered the risk of developing cirrhosis by up to 20%. Other caffeinated drinks did not show these benefits.
7) Coffee can help prevent cancer
Clinical studies suggest that coffee can help reduce your chances of developing a number of types of cancer, including oral cancer, skin cancer and liver cancer.
8) Coffee can lower your risk of developing Type II Diabetes
Type II Diabetes is a potentially deadly disease that is reaching epidemic proportions in Australia. Numerous studies have shown that coffee can dramatically reduce the risk of developing diabetes. One study that compared 18 earlier clinical studies concluded that each cup of coffee consumed reduced the risk by 7%. Decaffeinated coffee and tea showed similar results.
9) Coffee is good for the reproductive system
One study conducted in 2011 suggests that regular consumption of coffee can reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer in men by 20%. Another study found that women who drank four cups of coffee or more per day reduced their risk of developing endometrial cancer by 25%.
10) Coffee is an athletic performance enhancer
While athletes have known that coffee is a performance enhancer for generations, science now confirms it. Caffeine works in two ways to improve athletic performance:
1. It raises metabolism.
2. It increases oxidation of fatty acids and mobilises fatty acids from the fat tissues.
One U.K. study found that caffeine increased athletic performance by over 12%.
How much coffee do you need to drink to improve athletic performance? A study cited in Men’s Journal says that 6mg per .45 kilograms of weight is ideal. That’s about two cups if you weigh 70 kg. The same article notes that coffee consumed in ideal amounts increased “muscle output in the legs” by 6%.
Of course, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing and scientists still caution against drinking too much coffee or loading it down with too much sugar. One of the reasons why we put too much sugar in coffee is because sometimes coffee can have a bitter taste. There are three ways you can make a less bitter cup of coffee:
1. Arabica coffee beans are less bitter than Robusta coffee beans. Choose an Arabica blend if you find Robusta coffee beans too bitter for your taste.
2. Use a quality coffee machine that extracts coffee in the right amounts and at the right temperature for a full-bodied cup of coffee.
3. Use the right grind of coffee for your coffee maker. Use a coarse grind for a plunger and a fine ground coffee for an espresso machine.
The most noticeable active ingredient in coffee is caffeine. Caffeine works by blocking the effects of adenosine, a neurotransmitter scientists believe plays an important role in promoting sleep and prolonging that drowsy feeling we feel after sleep. At the same time, caffeine helps stimulate the release of dopamine, another neurotransmitter which is associated with pleasure and motivation. Clinical trials suggest that the combined neurological effects of caffeine work to improve memory, focus, and other important cognitive functions.
2) Coffee can fight depression
An article published in Prevention magazine states that drinking four or more cups of coffee per day can reduce your chances of becoming depressed by 10%. Coffee seems to be unique in this regard, since caffeinated soft drinks did not show the same mood lifting effects. Scientists speculate that the antioxidants (see Reason 4 below) found in coffee may be partly responsible for its ability to fight depression.
3) Coffee can help prevent dementia in old age
Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of dementia in the elderly, followed closely by Parkinson’s disease. Studies have shown that drinking three to five cups of coffee per day can reduce the risk of contracting Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other forms of dementia by up to 65%.
4) Coffee contains antioxidants
Antioxidants are nature’s disease fighters. They work by fighting (“anti”) health damaging free radicals (“oxidants”) in the body and boosting the immune system. Many fruits and vegetables also do this, but coffee, because it is our favourite beverage, is our number one source of antioxidants.
5) Coffee is rich in vitamins and minerals
Coffee contains an array of vitamins and minerals that are essential to good health. Here’s what you can find in just a single cup of coffee:
● 11% of U.S. RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) of Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
● 6% U.S. RDA Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5)
● 3% RDA of Potassium
● 3% RDA of Manganese● 2% RDA Niacin
● 2% RDA Thiamine
Multiply those percentages by the number of cups of coffee you drink in a day and you can see that coffee provides you with a significant amount of your daily vitamin and mineral needs.
2) Coffee can fight depression
An article published in Prevention magazine states that drinking four or more cups of coffee per day can reduce your chances of becoming depressed by 10%. Coffee seems to be unique in this regard, since caffeinated soft drinks did not show the same mood lifting effects. Scientists speculate that the antioxidants (see Reason 4 below) found in coffee may be partly responsible for its ability to fight depression.
3) Coffee can help prevent dementia in old age
Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of dementia in the elderly, followed closely by Parkinson’s disease. Studies have shown that drinking three to five cups of coffee per day can reduce the risk of contracting Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other forms of dementia by up to 65%.
4) Coffee contains antioxidants
Antioxidants are nature’s disease fighters. They work by fighting (“anti”) health damaging free radicals (“oxidants”) in the body and boosting the immune system. Many fruits and vegetables also do this, but coffee, because it is our favourite beverage, is our number one source of antioxidants.
5) Coffee is rich in vitamins and minerals
Coffee contains an array of vitamins and minerals that are essential to good health. Here’s what you can find in just a single cup of coffee:
● 11% of U.S. RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) of Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
● 6% U.S. RDA Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5)
● 3% RDA of Potassium
● 3% RDA of Manganese● 2% RDA Niacin
● 2% RDA Thiamine
Multiply those percentages by the number of cups of coffee you drink in a day and you can see that coffee provides you with a significant amount of your daily vitamin and mineral needs.
6) Coffee is good for your liver
A number of studies suggest that regular consumption of coffee can reduce the risk of developing cirrhosis of the liver by up to 80%. Cirrhosis is a disease that often afflicts heavy drinkers. One 22 year study of 125,000 heavy drinkers showed that as little as one cup of coffee per day lowered the risk of developing cirrhosis by up to 20%. Other caffeinated drinks did not show these benefits.
7) Coffee can help prevent cancer
Clinical studies suggest that coffee can help reduce your chances of developing a number of types of cancer, including oral cancer, skin cancer and liver cancer.
8) Coffee can lower your risk of developing Type II Diabetes
Type II Diabetes is a potentially deadly disease that is reaching epidemic proportions in Australia. Numerous studies have shown that coffee can dramatically reduce the risk of developing diabetes. One study that compared 18 earlier clinical studies concluded that each cup of coffee consumed reduced the risk by 7%. Decaffeinated coffee and tea showed similar results.
9) Coffee is good for the reproductive system
One study conducted in 2011 suggests that regular consumption of coffee can reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer in men by 20%. Another study found that women who drank four cups of coffee or more per day reduced their risk of developing endometrial cancer by 25%.
10) Coffee is an athletic performance enhancer
While athletes have known that coffee is a performance enhancer for generations, science now confirms it. Caffeine works in two ways to improve athletic performance:
1. It raises metabolism.
2. It increases oxidation of fatty acids and mobilises fatty acids from the fat tissues.
One U.K. study found that caffeine increased athletic performance by over 12%.
How much coffee do you need to drink to improve athletic performance? A study cited in Men’s Journal says that 6mg per .45 kilograms of weight is ideal. That’s about two cups if you weigh 70 kg. The same article notes that coffee consumed in ideal amounts increased “muscle output in the legs” by 6%.
Of course, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing and scientists still caution against drinking too much coffee or loading it down with too much sugar. One of the reasons why we put too much sugar in coffee is because sometimes coffee can have a bitter taste. There are three ways you can make a less bitter cup of coffee:
1. Arabica coffee beans are less bitter than Robusta coffee beans. Choose an Arabica blend if you find Robusta coffee beans too bitter for your taste.
2. Use a quality coffee machine that extracts coffee in the right amounts and at the right temperature for a full-bodied cup of coffee.
3. Use the right grind of coffee for your coffee maker. Use a coarse grind for a plunger and a fine ground coffee for an espresso machine.
Luigi Lavazza made his family name a household name in Italy after he perfected the art of blending coffee beans in the late 19th century -- an art that was unknown until then. Recognising the need for a coffee machine worthy of Lavazza coffee, the Lavazza company went on to making the perfect coffee machine their priority. The result was a range of Lavazza coffee machines designed for use with Lavazza coffee pods for the perfect cup of coffee every time.
Lavazza can’t take credit for the health benefits of coffee -- nature takes all the credit for that. They can, however, take credit for making healthy coffee taste better. Combine one of nature’s healthiest foods with Lavazza coffee technology and you have the best of both worlds: a delicious cup of coffee that is good for you.
Lavazza can’t take credit for the health benefits of coffee -- nature takes all the credit for that. They can, however, take credit for making healthy coffee taste better. Combine one of nature’s healthiest foods with Lavazza coffee technology and you have the best of both worlds: a delicious cup of coffee that is good for you.
