The many benefits of Coffee

167 million 60kg bags of coffee were consumed in 2020–2021! There’s nothing like a hot cuppa coffee in the morning to fuel your day. But the constant stream of negative press makes every sip guilt-laden. It doesn’t have to be that way! Coffee is a beloved beverage that continues to be studied extensively by researchers for its many health benefits, including its ability to increase energy levels, promote weight management, enhance athletic performance, and protect against chronic disease. Nevertheless, people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, children and adolescents, and people with certain health conditions may need to limit their intake.

1. Boosts energy levels. Possibly the bestknown benefit of coffee, considering so many of us use it as a pick-me-up every morning. Coffee contains caffeine, a stimulant that has been shown to increase energy levels and decrease fatigue by altering levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain.

2. Helps you live longer. A number of studies conducted recently found that coffee drinkers are less likely to die from some of the leading causes of death in women: coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease.

3. It’s good for your liver. Doesn’t matter if you’re consuming regular and decaf coffee, they both seem to have a protective effect on your liver. Research shows that coffee drinkers are more likely to have liver enzyme levels within a healthy range than people who don’t drink coffee.

4. Reduces the odds of getting colon cancer. One in 23 women develop colon cancer. But researchers found that coffee drinkers were 26 percent less likely to develop colorectal cancer.

5. Decreased risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease. Studies have shown that the caffeine in two cups of coffee may provide significant protection against developing the condition. In fact, researchers found that women age 65 and older who drank two to three cups of coffee a day were less likely to develop dementia in general.

6. Lowered risk of a stroke. For women, drinking at least one cup of coffee a day is associated with lowered stroke risk, which is the fourth leading cause of death in women.

7. May promote weight management. According to some research, coffee could alter fat storage and support gut health, both of which may be beneficial for weight management

8. Linked to a lower risk of depression. Some studies have found that drinking coffee could be associated with a lower risk of depression and may even be linked to a lower risk of death by suicide.