Is coffee healthy for you?
That is the age-old question. One day coffee is touted as a health food and other days it is hailed as a health risk.
Your daily cup of joe does more than get you ready for the day. It turns out that coffee is good for your heart and as well, your noggin. If that was not enough, it turns out that drinking coffee can reduce your risk to develop type 2 diabetes later on in life.
One of the molecules released from the body when you drink coffee (adiponectin) helps promote weight loss by increasing your body’s ability to metabolize carbs. By drinking coffee, you are improving your body’s ability to burn carbs.
As a byproduct of drinking coffee, you may find that you experience lower levels of HDL cholesterol in your bloodstream.
Drinking a daily cup of coffee not only wakes you up, but it has been shown to reduce the risk for Alzheimer’s later in life potentially. So by drinking a cup of coffee, you are staying healthy and getting ready for the day.
In a study done by School of Human Sciences, St Mary’s University College, caffeine has been found beneficial in sporting applications. When you go to the gym, instead of opting for a fancy pre-workout beverage, grab a cup of black coffee to help you achieve your goals.
When you drink your daily cup of coffee, you are ready to start the day. Caffeine consumption increases the production of catecholamines (neurotransmitters) in your brain by improving your ability to focus and feel good. Just a single cup of coffee releases adrenaline and dopamine).
Studies have shown that the optimal amount of coffee is between 200-400 milligrams per day without any adverse side effects. However, it is important to note that caffeine dependence and tolerance may vary from person to person.
When it comes to caffeine and coffee, knowing your tolerance and how well you handle caffeine is the difference between getting the right dosage of caffeine or overdoing it.
To prevent issues with your sleep schedule, cut caffeine consumption at around 2 pm-3 pm. Caffeine has a half-life of between 6-8 hours, depending on the person. So if you are drinking your last cup at 5 pm, you will not be able to fall asleep until probably midnight.
Luckily most of these side effects do not arise until after you have gone over the recommended dosage of 400 milligrams, which is about 4-5 cups of coffee. Coffee and caffeine are here to stay in our daily routine.
So if you are drinking espresso, drip coffee or iced coffee, you only need to worry about the risks if you are a heavy caffeine drinker. Otherwise, enjoy the coffee and drink your daily cup.