Is Coffee Healthy? 4 Benefits You Can Get From a Cup of Joe
Calling all coffee lovers! How many times have people badgered you about how much coffee you drink and the negative repercussions it might have on your health? If you’re like us, the number is too high to count. How come people forget to see the good things that come from coffee? Well we’re here to remind you! (Just to be clear we aren’t prescribing coffee to fix your health issues or encouraging you to go overboard. If you have any questions about your health and the effects coffee might have on you we recommend talking to your physician.) Now let’s get into the good stuff!
Improved Energy Levels: This is one of the most well-known benefits from drinking coffee. The caffeine from coffee travels into your bloodstream and then to your brain. “In the brain, caffeine blocks the inhibitory neurotransmitter adenosine. When this happens, the amount of other neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and dopamine increases, leading to enhanced firing of neurons.” We all know those people who seem “not like themselves” if they don’t have their coffee every day, right? It’s likely that their mood, reaction time, and energy are all thanks to coffee.
May Lower Risk For Parkinson’s Disease: Parkinson’s disease is a movement disorder that affects the nervous system. Its symptoms occur because of low dopamine levels in the brain. “Caffeine is not only linked to a lower chance of developing Parkinson’s disease, but it may also help those with the condition better control their movements,” according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Because there's no cure for PD, there are other ways to lower your risk such as avoiding toxins, exercising regularly, and eating antioxidant-rich foods.
Protection Against Liver Disease: Research shows that coffee drinkers are more likely to have liver enzyme levels within a healthy range than people who don’t drink coffee. Did you know that the liver has over 500 vital functions? We better keep it safe and strong! “Coffee seems to protect against liver cirrhosis in people at risk of the disease, such as those with alcohol use disorder or fatty liver disease.”
Stronger DNA: Because it’s not something that you can physically notice about someone, you might be surprised that, “... dark roast coffee decreases breakage in DNA strands, which occur naturally but can lead to cancer or tumors if not repaired by your cells.” We can strengthen our own DNA? Yes you can! Building strong DNA can help fight prevent terminal illnesses and if you're planning to reproduce, you'll pass on strong DNA and genes to your kids.