As a coffee lover, I looked for excuses to drink it. However, I never thought that health benefits would become one of those excuses. I have long thought of coffee as a guilty pleasure or that one last thing to give up to attain good health. How could I give up my wake up coffee or my coffee drink to get me through grocery shipping? With so many delicious options from hazelnut to mocha to vanilla lattes, the temptation was far too great! I knew that coffee with be with me forever despite any harm that could come of it. I know I am not alone in my love for coffee. So, to find out that coffee may have actual health benefits was thrilling.
How can coffee benefit you? In a minor way it can increase your metabolism. The caffeine speeds up your heart rate which in turn speeds your metabolism. Research has shown that you can burn an extra 80 calories a day drinking enough coffee.
Harvard researchers found that a man who drinks six cups of coffee daily can cut his risk of diabetes by 54% while women can reduce their risk by 30%. Moreover, coffee has been found to decrease the risk of colon cancer, Parkinson’s Disease, and treat headaches. Vanderbilt University scientist, Tomas DePaulis, Ph.D, says “Overall, the research shows that coffee is far more healthful than it is harmful”. De Paulis argues that few see harmful effects of coffee while many around the world see huge benefits. In fact, he points out that coffee can counteract damage by lessening the risk of heart disease in those who drink and smoke. If that isn’t enough, coffee has been linked to controlling asthma, preventing cavities and boost mood. In Brazil a study was conducted that showed children who drank small amounts of coffee had less depression than those who did not drink coffee. Further, there have not been any studies that indicate that coffee is harmful to children.
This is all very interesting and I encourage you to research in more depth before drinking coffee like a health drink. Much of this research is new and based on statistics and assumptions. Keep in mind, that benefits of coffee are always linked the amount of caffeine contained in one cup. Many are beginning to believe that caffeine in certain doses are beneficial to your health.
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