Scientific evidence states that yes, your morning coffee can actually be good for you!
In our society, coffee has become a little less of a drink, and more of a cultural experience. Ever since coffee shops went mainstream, getting coffee became an event that you had to go to, or a great way to catch up with girlfriends, or try out a guy for a first date. Before that, coffee in the morning was basically the only way some people were able to get out of bed. Coffee in the afternoon became the only way people could get through that annoying 3PM slump. No matter how you slice it, coffee is a big part of life for many people, so here are five ways it can actually be good for you.
-Coffee can help preserve mental function. In a study of 6,000 women conducted over 10 years, it was found that drinking between 2-3 cups of coffee per day helped combat mental decline, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.
READ MORE: Are you Drinking Too Much Coffee?
-Coffee can help you burn fat. Caffeine is one of the few natural substances that have a fat-burning effect, and it can boost your metabolism up to 11%, which helps your body shed pounds.
-Coffee has nutrients. One cup of coffee contains the following:
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2): 11% of RDA
- Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5): 6% of RDA
- Manganese and Potassium: 3% of RDA
- Magnesium and Niacin (B3): 2% of RDA
-Coffee may help prevent diabetes. According to research, people who drink coffee have a 23-50% lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
-Coffee may help fend off depression. In a study conducted by Harvard in 2011, women who drank 4 cups of coffee per day where at a 20% lower risk for depression than their non-coffee drinking counterparts.
So there you have it. If you are a die-hard java enthusiast, you can now drink your daily coffee in peace, knowing that it is helping your health in some way, shape, or form. I do want to caution you though, that these stats are referring to plain, black coffee. When you add boatloads of sugar, caramel, whipped cream, and milk you obviously change the health benefits of each cup.
Just food for thought, literally.