Coffee has benefits?!

Nothing makes us thank the universe more on a Monday morning than a good cup of coffee. Need an extra boost to attend that hour long meeting? Want a sweet treat to reward yourself for getting out of bed? Just craving some caffeine? All are very valid reasons to get yourself a cup. But other than the joy a cup of joe can bring you, have you ever found yourself questioning how good a cup a day could be for your body?

 

The Benefits

Coffee contains caffeine (duh), along with antioxidants and other substances that potentially reduce your risk of suffering from major diseases and illnesses. Other than mood and energy boosting, here are 3 ways coffee can positively impact your health:

1. Coffee is Antioxidant-Rich

Antioxidants fight inflammation, which essentially means that they keep us healthy by protecting our cells from any damage. Damage caused by free radicals may contribute to various health problems like cancer. Scientists believe that there are approximately 1,000 antioxidants in unprocessed coffee beans, and hundreds more develop during the roasting process₁. As a matter of fact, coffee has more antioxidant activity than green tea!

 

2. Coffee reduces the risk of developing chronic diseases

• Type 2 Diabetes: Studies suggest that moderate coffee consumption may lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In a review done of over 30 studies, it was revealed that each cup of coffee an individual consumes per day was linked to a 6% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes₂.

• Heart Disease: Coffee has also been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, and heart failure. Based on observational studies and other analysis, it was found that drinking three to five cups of coffee per day was tied to a 15% reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases₃. 

Another review of 21 studies showed that drinking three to four cups of coffee daily was associated with a 21% lower risk of stroke₄.

• Liver Disease: Some research claims that the more coffee people drink, the lower their risk of death from chronic liver disease. Drinking one cup of coffee per day was tied to a 15% lower risk, while drinking four cups per day was linked to a 71% lower risk₅. 

3. Coffee aids in weight management

• Studies show that higher levels of coffee consumptions have been associated with decreased body fat in both men and women. In fact, one study even suggests that people who consume 1 to 2 cups of coffee a day weremore likely to be physically active, resulting in the promotion of weight management₆.

 

Conclusion

Coffee has been studied extensively by researchers for decades and it is safe to say that coffee brings about many benefits to people who consume it regularly. Of course, it is important to moderate your daily intake, especially if you have pre-existing health conditions or are pregnant or breastfeeding (to name a few).

Regardless, if you find yourself questioning whether you should get yourself a cup of joe next time, come back to this article and remember that it’s not just a treat for your mind, but your body too ;). While you’re at it, if you wish to grab yourself some antioxidant-rich beans, why not check out our amazingly fresh coffee beans, roasted right here in Singapore every week. Whether you like a chocolatey, nutty taste (click here!), or something more intense (link 2), or even both (link 3), we have got you covered!

 

Till next time xoxo,

Monkey Beans

 

Sources

1. (Jong, 2017) Link: https://www.onemedical.com/blog/newsworthy/10-healthy-reasons-to-drink-coffee-2/

2. (Carlström, Larsson, 2018) Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29590460/ 

3. (Artalejo, García, 2018) Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29276945 

4. (Shao, Tang, Wang, He, 2020) Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33188952/ 

5. (Heath, Brahmbhatt, Tahan, Ibdah, Tahan, 2017) Link:  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28596816/ 

6. (Lee, Lim, Kim, Khil, Cheon, An, Hong, Lee, Kang, Oh, Keum, Hsieh, 2019) Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6628169/