FOOD + DRINK
THE WORLD OF Coffee cont.
The Benefits Of Coffee
AS WITH EVERYTHING IN LIFE, MODERATION IS THE KEY WHEN IT COMES TO COFFEE AND ITS HEALTH BENEFITS. BUT WHAT EXACTLY ARE THOSE BENEFITS?
CONCENTRATION
Thanks to the caffeine found in coffee, a couple of cups can help us to concentrate for longer, which is ideal if you have to sit an exam or study for one, or simply manage a full day at work. More than that, though, coffee can improve brain function in general, enhancing our mood and boosting energy levels, reaction times, and even memory.
FAT BURNING
Caffeine helps to increase your metabolic rate, which is what burns unwanted fat. A higher metabolism combined with healthy eating and regular exercise can help you to lose weight at a steady rate. Since coffee is a great source of caffeine, adding it to your diet can bump start your metabolism nicely.
PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE
Caffeine – and therefore coffee – stimulates the nervous system, which has the effect of releasing adrenaline into the bloodstream. Too much coffee can make us feel jittery and on edge for that very reason( it’ s the ancient‘ fight or flight’ mode, making us ready to defend ourselves when necessary), but the right amount simply keeps us on our toes and improves physical performance in sports and athletics. If you want to enjoy a workout in peak condition, have a strong cup of coffee about half an hour before you begin.
ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS
Drinking coffee does a lot more than simply wake us up and help us to run faster though. It actually contains generous amounts of the essential nutrients our bodies need to function. These include vitamin B2( riboflavin), vitamin B5( pantothenic acid), manganese, potassium, niacin and magnesium.
LOWER YOUR RISK OF TYPE 2 DIABETES
Type 2 diabetes affects about 300 million people worldwide and is a disease that shows no signs of abating. The main symptom is that it raises the blood sugar level due to insulin resistance. Studies – which are still ongoing – seem to show that coffee drinkers have a much reduced risk of developing this disease, possibly by as much as 50 per cent. Of course, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes can also be reduced by eating a healthier, well balanced diet and maintaining a sensible weight, so drinking coffee alone won’ t be enough.
LOWER YOUR RISK OF ALZHEIMER’ S DISEASE
Alzheimer’ s disease is the most common form of dementia in the world. It’ s a neurodegenerative disease, which means that the brain slowly stops to function in the way it should. Sufferers become forgetful at first, but soon the brain not only forgets who people are and what happened last week, but also forgets how to tell the lungs to take in air and the heart to beat. There is no cure for
Alzheimer’ s, but ongoing studies show that a healthy diet and keeping the brain active with puzzles and hobbies can help – and so can coffee. Coffee drinkers have, it is said, up to a 65 per cent lower risk of developing the disease.
PROTECTION AGAINST PARKINSON’ S
Studies in Sweden have shown that drinking more coffee even reduces the risk of developing Parkinson’ s – a disease that reduces the amount of dopamine produced by the brain, which means that the body shakes and movements become stiff and slow. It’ s not fatal, but it does put a huge strain on the body, and there is no cure.
LESS PAIN
Interestingly, those who drink more coffee appear to have a higher pain threshold than those who drink tea, for example, and much higher than those who don’ t drink any hot, caffeine-based beverages at all.
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