5 Perks of Drinking Coffee Daily – According to Science

Coffee lovers, rejoice! Here are five scientific reasons why your daily java obsession is actually good for you.

It’s funny that I’ve always considered myself more of a tea lover even though coffee is a major part of my culture. Growing up in a Haitian household meant that breakfast usually consisted of delicious peanut butter and butter sandwiches made with homemade bread or biscuits; this was then dipped into morning coffee.

Starting the day with a warm cup of java was about more than just waking up and getting some much needed energy (although that was an added perk); it was a way to spend the most important meal of the day with family before everyone’s busy schedules got in the way. Because of this, coffee has always been revered in my house.

If coffee is an essential part of your morning routine, you’ll be stoked to hear that your regular run to your local coffee shop is about to pay off big time. Here are five scientific reasons why drinking coffee is good for your health.

1. Fitting in just one cup a day will help you live longer.

There are so many things that contribute to why coffee promotes good health and vitality. According to a recent study by The New England Journal of Medicine, people who consume coffee on a regular basis are less likely to suffer from multiple life threatening diseases such as strokes, heart disease and respiratory problems. Do I have your attention yet, coffee aficionados?

Hoping to figure out just how much a love of java can impact your lifestyle, researchers examined the health records of about 400,000 men and women over the course of 14 years. They found that those who drank at least one cup daily had a five percent lowered risk of mortality while four cups of coffee roughly equated to a 16 percent decrease.

At first glance, these numbers don’t seem that crazy but they’re definitely one more reason to get lost in a milky brew.

2. Caffeine is a stimulant, which means that it’s the perfect fuel for your brain.

coffee-brain

Caffeine is known to boost your overall cognitive performance. The Wiley Online Library mentions that caffeine works by “inhibiting the binding of both adenosine and benzodiazepine receptor ligands to brain membranes. As these neurotransmitters are known to slow down brain activity, a blockade of their receptors lessens this effect. Caffeine also causes changes to a variety of other neurotransmitters, including noradrenaline, dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid.”

Drinking a cuppa joe also improves your memory and makes sure that your brain’s reaction time is in top shape. Taking one sip before that important meeting or school presentation is all the liquid courage you’ll need!

3. It’s a great mood and energy booster.

We all know that when you’re having a bad day, nothing works better as a pick-me-up than coffee. It gets your blood flowing and makes you more alert. It’ll also make you feel more alive to the world (some of us know that feeling all too well).

Another perk is that it’s a great way to calm your nerves without the guilt of stress eating. That doesn’t mean that the more you drink, the more relaxed you’ll be. However,  having the right amount certainly makes your Monday slump so much easier to handle.

4. It decreases your risk of depression by a staggering 20%.

coffee-mood

The Archives of Internal Medicine noted that women who downed at least four cups a day were less likely to develop depression, while those who drank fewer cups only had a 15 percent decrease. If you really think about it, the fact that something so simple helps to reduce your risk rate is pretty astonishing.

There’s nothing wrong with feeling like you could use the extra boost. Your mental health will always come first.

5. Packed with antioxidants, coffee beans will make your skin look new.

Your skin and body are about to thank you. Antioxidants are known for rejuvenating skin cells and reversing aging, which explains why many people use coffee as a base for their beauty regime. In even better news, they also contain properties that fight diseases such as cancer.

It’s interesting that coffee beans are one of the biggest sources of antioxidants; they contain over three times the amount of antioxidants in major plant based foods, tea and wine.

I don’t know about you but hearing about just how much of a positive impact your coffee intake can have on your overall health makes me eager to head out on my next coffee date. Before you hit up every single Starbucks within a two block radius of your house, remember that it’s possible to become addicted to caffeine. It should never be used as the be-all and end-all. After all, you don’t want to crash before your day even starts.

About the author

Cassandra Guerrier

Cassandra Guerrier is a fashion editor, beauty and lifestyle writer. When she isn't obsessing over the latest lifestyle studies or living off of Pinterest and YouTube DIY tutorials, she's nerding out over her comic books and all things Sherlock Holmes.

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