6 Benefits of Drinking Coffee

You’ve probably heard it before. A co-worker, family member or random person commenting on how your coffee drinking habit is bad for you. Well, believe it or not, but this is actually incorrect as it has been proven that in moderation everyone’s favourite dark rich beverage can actually be beneficial to your health. We take a look at some of the benefit of drinking coffee.

1. Coffee can decrease your risk of heart disease Heart disease is a term used to describe several conditions that can affect the health of your heart. These include coronary artery disease, heart attacks and strokes. More and more people are suffering from heart disease which makes it the number one cause of death worldwide. So, what does coffee have to do with heart disease?

Studies have shown that those who consumed 3 – 5 cups of coffee a day may have a lower risk for heart disease by up to 15% when compared to those who prefer not to indulge in their morning cup of coffee. It has also been shown that drinking cold brew coffee may even improve your heart health.

It is important to note that just as is the case in life that too much of a good thing can be bad for you and people with high blood pressure should avoid drinking too much caffeine regularly.

2. Coffee may lower your risk of type 2 diabetes With type 2 diabetes becoming a threat to many people’s lives worldwide its become important to monitor your sugar intake. Coffee has been shown to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 22%, especially when consuming between 4-6 cups a day. The benefits come from the chlorogenic acids found in coffee which are powerful antioxidants. It seems that drinking coffee stabilises your blood sugar levels thereby reducing your risk of type 2 diabetes.

3. Coffee aids in digestion

We’ve all been there. You’ve had your morning cup of coffee and now you have to run to the toilet. Have you ever wondered why this happens? Well, basically coffee can activate contractions in your colon and intestinal muscles which in turn makes you want to go to the toilet. The same chlorogenic acids that aids in reducing type 2 diabetes also stimulates your stomach acid, along with N-alkanoyl-5-hydroxytryptamid, which then helps move food through your digestive system faster.

4. Coffee can make you live longer Something every coffee connoisseur would love to hear is that coffee can actually extend their lives. Studies have shown that people who drink more coffee (including decaf strangely enough) tend to have a lower chance of early death. A huge study in the USA that took place over 24 years showed that those who drank coffee had higher rates of survival than those that did not drink coffee. Whether this is because coffee drinkers tend to be happier people and therefore live longer or because there are quite a few health benefits associated with drinking coffee (see above) is up to you to decide but it seems to be the fact that drinking coffee makes you live longer than not drinking it. Plus, this gives us more than enough of an excuse to continue drinking the dark rich beverage we all love.

5. Coffee can protect your liver The liver is another organ that benefits from you drinking coffee, more specifically, if you partake in more than 4 cups of coffee a day you are reducing your risk for liver disease. A study found that alcohol drinkers who also drank their fair share of coffee actually cut their risk of cirrhosis by 22%. It would seem that coffee contains an ingredient that shields the liver from disease. Now, this doesn’t mean that you could now supplement your glass of wine with coffee, but it is great to know that drinking coffee helps you look after your liver. Coffee also helps reduce the risk of liver cancer with those who drink at least 3 cups of coffee a day shown to reduce their chances of getting liver cancer by 50%.

6. Coffee can help you get along better with people

We all know that having a bad day is bad for your health. Well, drinking coffee has shown to improve relations between workers in the workplace. Workspaces that consist of coffee drinkers have shown to have a more positive outlook and view than the workspaces where no one drank coffee. Coffee consumption also leads to enhanced participation in work-related activities. Coffee also helps lift your mood making you a more pleasant person to be around. Studies have shown that people who drink coffee tend to have lower rates of depression than those who don’t drink coffee. While on the subject of work coffee also improves your focus and attentiveness making you more productive. Seeing as drinking coffee in moderation does offer a bunch of health benefits you now don't have to feel guilty for enjoying your cup (or two) of Diesel Coffee every morning. #likedieselcoffee