Coffee wakes me up, warms my heart, boosts my happiness levels and improves my memory. Even just the thought of a cuppa makes me happy to wake up each morning. Somebody said you can’t buy happiness, but you can buy coffee, which is pretty close.
This is not hear-say. It is something many of us experience. When we are alone, sad, looking for new ideas, and many more reasons cause us to crave a mug of java. What is the secret behind this? There is scientific proof that coffee can boost your levels of happiness. A study conducted at the Harvard School of Public Health showed that it plays a role in making our outlook on life more positive. Researchers say caffeine can be compared to mild antidepressants. They even found a link between consuming caffeine and lower suicide rates.
What are the benefits of drinking coffee?
The chemical components of a cuppa Joe offer several fantastic health benefits besides making us feel happy.
Coffee has a hoarded wealth of antioxidants
Yes, you can believe me. Coffee is so rich in antioxidants that it can prevent health risks like heart diseases and cancer. The antioxidants can also prevent brain inflammation.
For example, it is the number one source of antioxidants for people in the U.S. than all other components of their diets. However, the antioxidant level varies, depending on the caffeine content. The antioxidant levels in cup of pure black java are much higher than in decaf versions.
The caffeine in coffee protects the nervous system and neurons
Besides the antioxidants, caffeine has other properties such as anti-inflammatory, psychostimulant and more. These properties are effective fighters against Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease in men. Furthermore, it protects the brain and is resilient to neurological disease, aging and stress.
Anti-depressant properties of caffeine
Researchers found that caffeine kills depression. Regular, prescribed limits can even curb mental illness risks. The Harvard School of Public Health study also determined that men and women who regularly drink coffee were less likely to have depression or suicidal thoughts. The researchers’ observations showed that frequent caffeine consumption led to happier people with more positive thoughts than those who do not enjoy regular cups of coffee.
Interesting bits of coffee related information
The benefits that it provide vary, depending on the type of coffee bean and the roasting process. For example, the darker the roast, the lower the caffeine content and its benefits.
Yeah, surprisingly, light roast java has more health benefits than dark roast. For maximum health benefits, drink your coffee hot, black and without sweetener, sugar, syrup, milk or cream.
The best time for indulging in your favorite cuppa is the morning hours. Afternoon coffee breaks might interfere with your sleep patterns.
Having a cuppa Joe about an hour before your gym session can boost your strength training results.
Interestingly, decaf coffee is not entirely caffeine-free; they do contain caffeine in limited levels.
A friendly warning
Don’t let anyone tell you drinking caffeine is bad for you. However, as with all other things, moderation is key. Too much of a good thing can be harmful, and your body might buildup a resistance to the benefits of coffee.
