10 Ways Drinking Coffee Can Increase Your Overall Well-Being

Java junkies, gather around. We know you can’t make it through the day without a cup of coffee (or four) and, honestly, neither can we. But it turns out that this dependency is doing some pretty amazing favors for our health. Here are 10 ways your favorite brew of the day benefits your overall well-being.

1. It improves your physical performance.

The caffeine in coffee can help stimulate your nervous system, increasing your body’s production of adrenaline, which is the fight-or-flight hormone, and can prepare your body for intense physical exertion. It’s said that coffee can enhance your physical performance by at least 11 percent. Just drink a cup of coffee 30 minutes before going to the gym and notice how it impacts your workout.

2. It increases longevity.

A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine claimed that women who consumed coffee faced less risk of diseases like cancer, type 2 diabetes and heart disease when compared to those who didn’t drink coffee. What’s more, research published in the New England Journal of Medicine pointed out that coffee consumers had a lower risk of dying prematurely. The scientists found that drinking three cups of coffee every day can reduce a person’s risk of early death by a whopping 24 percent.

3. It reduces your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

The leading cause of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases worldwide affecting people over the age of 65. However, there are some ways to prevent this condition, including eating healthily, exercising often and drinking coffee. One study said that opting for a cup daily can decrease your risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease by 65 percent.

4. It can help prevent Parkinson’s disease.

According to scientists, people who don’t drink coffee are more likely to get Parkinson’s disease. Even people who are genetically predisposed to develop the disease can see a reduced risk when they drink coffee.

5. It fights both stress and depression.

Stress and depression can seriously affect your quality of life, and 4.1 percent of the American population currently struggles with depression. But a 2011 study conducted at Harvard revealed that women who drank at least four cups of coffee each day reduced their depression risk by 20 percent. They were also 53 percent less likely to commit suicide.

6. It provides your body with essential nutrients.

A cup of coffee can contain up to 11 percent of your daily vitamin B2, 3 percent of your daily manganese and potassium, 6 percent of your daily vitamin B5 and 2 percent of your daily vitamin B3. All of these nutrients transfer from the coffee beans themselves into your brewed coffee.

7. It improves your energy levels naturally.

Caffeine is a natural stimulant, which can help people feel energized and less tired. When you drink coffee, the caffeine content absorbs into your bloodstream and then reaches your brain. There, the stimulating substance blocks the inhibitory neurotransmitter called adenosine, which leads to the increased production of other neurotransmitters and the enhanced firing of neurons. That’s why coffee helps improve memory, reaction times, vigilance, mood, energy levels and more.

8. It reduces your risk of liver-related diseases.

Some of the most common liver-related diseases are fatty liver disease and hepatitis, which can lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer if you don’t treat them correctly. However, scientists have found that drinking coffee every day can help reduce your risk of developing these conditions. People who drink at least four cups of coffee daily can be protected against cirrhosis, reducing their risks by as much as 80 percent.

9. It can help burn body fat.

Caffeine is found in a ton of fat-burning products in the market nowadays — and with good reason. Studies show that caffeine can help boost your metabolic rate by up to 11 percent, and others point out that drinking coffee can increase fat-burning abilities by 10 percent in people who are obese and by 29 percent in people with a healthy BMI.

10. It can strengthen your DNA.

According to a study published in the European Journal of Nutrition, people who drank coffee had stronger DNA in comparison to those who didn’t drink coffee. The white blood cells in coffee drinkers also worked more effectively than those who avoided a morning cup.

Emily Pham is the natural lifestyle blogger behind beautytalk.com.

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