5 Ways Coffee Can Actually Be Good For You

Sticking to a healthy diet doesnt mean you have to avoid dining out and say no to plans......You CAN have your cake and it it too. 8

I love a good cup of coffee on a morning.

Whether it’s right in the middle of a freezing cold winter…

Or on the hottest day of the year – I’ll always have my morning cup of coffee.

So when I read an article a few weeks ago about how drinking coffee leads to a longer life and all the health benefits it has, I had to write a blog on it – especially because coffee tends to get labelled as a ‘bad guy’.

Yet in recent studies, coffee drinkers have been shown to have a much lower risk of developing diseases like Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

And coffee is one of the biggest sources of antioxidants in the average diet –most people even get more antioxidants from coffee than fruits and vegetables combined because of the way our diets are today.

With that, here’s 5 ways coffee can actually be good for you – so if you think it’s ‘bad’ and you don’t drink it because of that, this might help you think again:

1. Coffee Improves Energy Levels

Coffee can help you feel a lot less ‘groggy’ and tired, and give you an energy boost – because of the caffeine.

Why? Because when you drink coffee, the caffeine is absorbed into the bloodstream where it travels into the brain.

Studies have shown that coffee improves various aspects of brain function including memory, mood, energy levels and reaction times.

It basically blocks an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain that leads to a stimulant effect.

2. Coffee Can Improve
Physical Performance

Caffeine stimulates the nervous system that sends signals to the fat cells to break down body fat, as well as increase adrenaline levels in the blood – This is your “fight or flight” hormone.

Because the caffeine makes the fat cells break down body fat, they can be used as fuel – so having a strong cup of coffee about half an hour before you go to the gym or for a run makes sense.

Add to that it makes getting a dose of early morning exercise in feel easier!

3) Coffee May Help You Live Longer

Given that coffee drinkers are less likely to get many diseases according to research – it makes sense that coffee could help you live longer.

In two studies, drinking coffee was associated with a 20% lower risk of death in men and a 26% lower risk of death in women, over a period of 18-24 years.

Coffee is a ‘life-saver’ in more ways than one!

4) Coffee Doesn’t Cause Heart Disease

It’s often claimed that caffeine can increase your blood pressure – which is true.

But, the effect is so small it barely has an impact at all and usually goes away if you drink coffee regularly.

Studies do NOT support the myth that coffee raises the risk of heart disease.

In fact, there’s evidence that women who drink coffee have a reduced risk of heart disease.

Not only that, some studies show that coffee drinkers have a 20% lower risk of stroke too.

5) Coffee Lowers Your Risk Of
Type II Diabetes

Type II diabetes is a giant heath problem right now.

For some reason, coffee drinkers have a significantly reduced risk of developing type II diabetes.

So that’s our list.

Coffee is actually one of the healthiest beverages on the planet.

Of course, it’s important to not immediately start drinking 5+ cups of coffee a day – drink it in moderation as you would everything else…

Particularly if you currently only drink one cup of coffee a day.

Personally, I don’t have any more coffee after around 2pm so that I still have the ability to wind down and get a good night’s sleep.

If you don’t drink coffee at all, my best advice would be to start off with weaker strength of coffee.

For example, if you go to Costa or Starbucks you can request a single shot, or even half a shot and be sure to have plenty of milk to start with if you’re not used to the strength.

Moral of this week’s article? Coffee is one of the best natural energy sources ever. Happy coffee drinking!

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About
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Paul Gough

Paul Gough is an internationally known Physio and Founder of The North East’s Leading Specialist Private Physiotherapy Practice for People in their 40’s, 50’s and 60’s, who want to keep healthy and active.

You might know Paul as an expert Columnist who writes weekly health articles for TWO of the North East's biggest daily Newspapers, The Northern Echo And The Hartlepool Mail, he is a regular Speaker at Industry Seminars around the globe and a Radio Personality, often heard on the BBC. Paul has been an expert guest on dozens of Radio shows and regularly interviewed in newspapers, magazines and trade journals all over the world, including the Guardian.

Paul’s background included working extensively in the Premier League with a Top Professional Football Team, and since quitting his job in Professional Football in 2007, his Physio Practice has become the fastest growing in the UK and biggest in the North East. So successful, that companies like BUPA, ASDA, The Vela Group And Coast & Country, repeatedly retain his Physio company's services to keep healthy their own staff and workforce. Paul Gough Physio Rooms is now a large multi-physio, multi clinic speciality practice in Darlington, Durham, Guisborough and Hartlepool.