5 Health Reasons to Drink Coffee
My all-time favorite drink, coffee, has gotten a bad reputation in the past. For some reason, people seem to think it can lead to disease.
In fact, the exact opposite is true. Coffee consumption is associated with improvements in health.
Here are five health reasons to drink coffee.
1. Raises The Metabolic Rate
Caffeine, the active ingredient in coffee, has in some studies caused an increase in the rate of fat burning in the body. Having a cup of java before a workout may therefore help you lose weight by making your body burn a few extra calories.
2. May Lower Your Risk of Stroke
Coffee consumption is also associated with a lower risk of stroke.
3. Drastically Reduces Type II Diabetes Risk
If you don't live under a rock, then you've probably noticed that type II diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions. In fact, about 300 million people are affected by this disease today. Coffee may drastically reduce type II diabetes risk, with some studies showing that the risk is reduced by up to 67% for those who drink a lot of coffee.
4. May Lower Your Risk of Parkinson's
Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. Caffeine seems to lower the risk of getting Parkinson's by up to 58%.
5. Very Rich in Antioxidants
Perhaps a large part of the reason coffee is associated with improved health is the fact that coffee is the single largest source of antioxidants in the western diet.
Conclusion
Of course, there are some negative effects of coffee as well, the main one being addiction and potential withdrawal. Everyone has to decide for themselves whether the potential health benefits are worth being addicted to something.
It is important not to add sugar to your coffee as this will negate all the health benefits listed above. Black, filtered coffee is the best option.
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