Is coffee good or bad for your health?
Attention coffee drinkers: studies show that coffee significantly increases energy levels and performance.
Uh, okay... least groundbreaking news ever.
Wait. Our memory? Now that’s a little more interesting.
So, it looks like coffee is good for most of our brain functions. Now the question is this: is coffee good – or bad – for our bodies?
(Please say good, please say good, please say good…)
Great news coffee lovers! Because it turns out, coffee is shockingly good for us on many levels.
The health benefits of coffee
Not that us coffee enthusiasts need a reason to continue drinking the stuff – but hey – since the answer to the big coffee question is one most of us want to hear, let’s dive right in…
Studies show that coffee:
Can help us lose weight.
Coffee helps to boost the metabolism and help breakdown extra fat in our bodies. The key here is to avoid adding loads of cream and sugar to every cup. Think of these add-ins as a treat, rather than a go-to, if you want to reap the metabolic benefits coffee can provide.
Is full of nutrients & antioxidants.
Caffeinated or Decaf, coffee contains a surprisingly large variety of nutrients, like:
Vitamin B2 (digestion & energy)
Vitamin B5 (skin, hair, eyes, liver, & digestion)
Vitamin B3 (brain function, skin, cholesterol)
Manganese & potassium (bone health, blood sugar, Inflammation, brain)
Lowers our risk for type 2 diabetes.
How? While it’s not entirely clear, there are a few theories. Like that coffee helps us process sugar better. Or that certain compounds in coffee help protect our cells against the accumulation of a toxic protein known to cause type 2 diabetes. But one thing is for sure: regular coffee drinkers have a lower risk of developing this disease.
Actually, lowers our risk for lots of diseases.
Such as:
Parkinson’s
Alzheimer’s
Dementia
Certain cancers
Stroke
Can make us happier, boost our moods, and even fight depression.
Woah, that’s a lot of good mental health effects you’ve got going on there, coffee.
What’s the right amount of coffee to drink?
So, how much is too much?
According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the average person can safely drink “three to five 8-oz cups/day or providing up to 400 mg/day of caffeine”.
With that said, it’s important to note that everybody is different – so tune into your body to make sure you don’t exceed your own personal limits.
If you have any of these symptoms, they might be signs you’re drinking too much coffee:
Racing heartAnxietyTrouble sleepingUpset stomach
And of course, anyone with extenuating circumstances, such as those with an intolerance for caffeine, certain medical conditions, or those who are pregnant, should check with their doctor.
Hallelujah – coffee is good for us!
At 6AM Health, we are particularly pleased with this discovery – as fellow coffee lovers, but also – as coffee enthusiasts who wanted to make sure we could add this energy-driving drink into our Fresh Fridges without compromising our mission: to provide healthy & convenient fast food options around town.
So say hello to our new delicious, frothy, cold-brews (brought to you by our friends at Atomic Coffee Roasters!) – now available at any of our Fresh Fridges in the Greater Boston area.
Come get caffeinated at a fridge near you!