Why coffee is actually good for you

Who doesn’t love to start their day with a delicious-smelling cappuccino, latte or espresso? Here’s why coffee is actually good for you…

It has a bad rep, and there is some truth in it, as coffee contains the stimulant caffeine, so drinking too much of it could lead to headaches, jitters, a racing heartbeat and sleep disturbances. Coffee also tends to be dehydrating for the body if consumed in excess. But everyone metabolises caffeine differently, so everyone’s reactions will be varied and not all of them negative.

If you’re not overly sensitive to it and you haven’t experienced any of the above, it’s perfectly OK to enjoy a daily cup of your favourite brew. Just be mindful not to load it with refined sugar and syrups, so you’ll able to get all its great benefits. Here are five of our favourite health-boosting properties of coffee.

Antioxidant powers

There are impressive amounts of antioxidants found in coffee that can protect the body from the effects of free radicals, which contribute to cell damage and the ageing process. For example, the polyphenols that may help to lower the risk of cardiovascular and heart disease, and quinines, which become more potent after roasting. This type of antioxidant, along with the magnesium contained in coffee, positively affect blood sugar levels and are linked to a decreased risk of developing diabetes type 2.

Pre-workout booster

Drinking a cup of coffee or a shot of espresso an hour before a workout can increase energy, alertness and improve performance, as caffeine raises adrenaline levels in your blood to help you prepare for physical exertion. Coffee also affects your metabolism, increasing it by 10-20 per cent, and by 15 per cent up to three hours after you have stopped exercising.

Circulation support

A daily cup of coffee can increase blood flow and dilate capillaries and blood vessels in the lungs and brain, which can help you breathe more easily, reduce headache pain and have better oxygenation in all the body’s tissues. And yes, this happens because the heart rate elevates, but there shouldn’t be any long-term negative effects to our health, as long as the caffeine consumption during the day is not excessive, And by the way, this is one of the reasons why many scrubs and creams are coffee-based. All this oxygen flow can definitely benefit our skin as well!

Brain protector

Coffee and its components can improve various areas of brain function like concentration, orientation, general cognitive function and enhance memory. They can block inhibitory neurotransmitters, which allow for other stimulatory ones (like norepinephrine and dopamine) to be raised. This will fire up neurones and give you energy and boosted brain power. These protective properties of caffeine help lower the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases and dementia.

Mood enhancer

Coffee has an impact on the production of brain chemicals like serotonin and dopamine, which are called the ‘feel-good’ hormones. These enhance mood and have also been linked to a lower rate of depression. Even just the scent of coffee can be beneficial in lowering stress promoting compounds in the body. And who doesn’t love to wake up to the delicious smell of coffee brewing in the kitchen?