Is Coffee Good For You?

by Echo Store on October 08, 2022

For centuries, coffee has received both praise and flak. While it was lauded for the energy boost it gives, it was also decreed sinful (haraam) in the Middle East and labeled satanic by Europeans until it got the papal blessing. It was also once listed by the World Health Organization as a possible carcinogen.

Fortunately, more studies have been conducted throughout the world that not only discredit hazard claims but also prove the healthy perks of coffee. Below are just some of the health benefits of drinking coffee.


Health Benefits of Coffee


1. Energy boost and mental alertness

Feeling energized after drinking a cup of coffee? You’re not imagining it. 

Coffee contains caffeine. This stimulant perks up your central nervous system, increasing your energy levels and making you feel less tired. 

Studies have also shown that moderate caffeine intake also increases alertness, attention, memory, and reaction times. 


2. Physical endurance

Need a pre-workout boost? Drink a cup of black coffee.

One meta-analysis found that coffee enhanced aerobic endurance, muscle endurance and strength, power, and exercise speed. Another study found that caffeine increases adrenaline levels in your blood, helping you better prepare for physical exertion. 


3. Lower risk of type 2 diabetes

A study found that people who drink 1-4 cups of coffee daily had a 30% lower risk of type 2 diabetes than those who don’t. One study even cited as high as 67% risk reduction.

Researchers believe that coffee helps regulate blood sugar levels. Its antioxidants, anti-inflammatory effects, and ability to boost calorie burning are also possible reasons for the link between coffee and diabetes.


4. Helps burn fat

Caffeine is a natural substance that is proven to aid fat burning. It increases metabolic rate, helping break down body fat and converting it to energy. However, this effect may diminish in long-term coffee drinkers.

 

5. Lower risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease are two of the most common neurodegenerative conditions worldwide. 

Several studies linked coffee drinking to a lower risk of Parkinson’s disease by 28% to 60%. Caffeine may also help control movement in people with Parkinson’s.

A study also showed a 30% reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease in people who drank coffee. While there is no known cure for both diseases, studies consistently show that caffeine can help with the prevention of cognitive decline.

 

6. Good for the heart

Remember when people used to worry that coffee can increase one’s blood pressure? While there’s some truth to that, the effect is so negligible and often disappears when you drink coffee regularly.

Contrary to previous claims and myths, multiple studies show that drinking 2 to 3 cups a day can help ward off heart failure

 

7. Lower risk of certain cancers

Coffee appears to protect against certain cancers, including breast, colorectal, endometrial, prostate, and liver cancer.

A study suggested that non-smokers who drank 2 cups of coffee per day had a lower risk of female breast cancers. Another analysis showed that coffee drinkers have a 40% lower risk of getting liver cancer. Similarly, people who drank 4-5 cups of coffee per day had a 15% lower chance of acquiring colorectal cancer.

 

8. Elevates your mood

Feeling happy after getting your daily dose of coffee? Science can explain.

Coffee is linked to positive emotions, including pleasure, satisfaction, and happiness because it stimulates the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline – what we call “happy hormones”. Coffee is even linked to decreased risk of depression and suicide.

 

9. Rich in antioxidants

Coffee is one of the most antioxidant-rich beverages in the world. Some people get more antioxidants from coffee than from fruits and vegetables.

This isn’t to say that you should replace your greens with coffee. Fruits and vegetables are full of nutrients that you won’t get from coffee. But coffee has 200 to 550 milligrams of antioxidants per cup, which can help thwart some diseases. It also has anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, antibacterial, and anti-viral properties.

 

10. Essential nutrients

Coffee is not just delicious, it’s also nutritious.

A single cup of coffee contains 7.2 milligrams of magnesium and phosphorus, 118 milligrams of potassium, and 4.8 milligrams of calcium. It also has riboflavin, vitamin B5, and niacin in small amounts.

 

These numbers don’t seem high but enjoying multiple cups a day can give you a nutritious boost.

Local coffees to try

Coffee can be good not just for your health but also for the environment, the community, and the local economy. To make the most out of your coffee journey, we recommend these homegrown coffees:

 

  • Chit’s Blend - A blend of fine grounds from the finest coffee beans of heirloom varieties, handpicked by trusted farmers and delicately sorted before roasting. Also comes in peaberry variant.
  • Women in Coffee - An all-natural coffee produced through a partnership with the International Women’s Coffee Alliance, which helps female coffee farmers train and sustainably support their livelihood. Choose from Benguet Blend, Benguet Arabica, or seasonal peaberries from La Trinidad, Sagada, Atok, Bansalan, or Sulu.
  • Ark of Taste - A blend of Arabica beans from Benguet, recognized by Ark of Taste, a listing of the world's food that is facing extinction. 
  • Antique Coffee - Robusta coffee produced by upland coffee farmers from Antique
  • Philippine Civet - A mix of wild-harvested Civet and high-grown Arabica beans
  • Benguet Arabica drip bag - A blend of handpicked Arabica beans, ground andconveniently packaged so you can brew coffee wherever you go

 

All of these are sustainable coffees following quality farming, production, and handling standards. these practices conserve the nature while providing livelihood to farmers.

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