Many people take pride in the way they prepare their coffee, and some have even mastered it to the point of true artistry. Whether you prefer it lightly sugared, perfectly brewed or bitter, short or long, sweet, frothy or full of granules, many of you just can't give up your favorite coffee—and in fact, you don't have to. It turns out that drinking coffee has some health benefits. However, medical opinions are divided on whether the benefits outweigh the drawbacks or the opposite. Here are some of the ways coffee affects your health, for better and for worse:
Coffee Reduces the Risk of Diabetes
A 2005 review of nine separate studies on the benefits of coffee found that adults who drank 4-6 cups of coffee daily had a roughly 30% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those who drank up to two cups of coffee daily. If you're imagining yourself working in an office, uncomfortable and with red eyes, don't be afraid. Decaf coffee can do the trick.
Coffee Fights Free Radicals
We often forget that coffee is actually a plant, and like any other plant, coffee beans contain natural substances that nourish the body. Coffee beans contain more than 1,000 natural compounds called phytochemicals that contribute to immunity and body health. Many of these phytochemicals are antioxidants that protect the body's cells from oxidative damage caused by free radicals.
One of the benefits of coffee is that it improves memory and cognition.
Researchers report that people who drank caffeinated coffee in the morning performed better at tasks related to learning new information. Coffee can also improve cognitive function as we age. Another study found that combining coffee with something sweet had the most effective effect. Combining the two contributes to improved cognitive ability while enhancing short-term memory.
Coffee can cause osteoporosis.
Coffee can cause the body to excrete calcium in the urine. The loss of calcium needed to build bones causes a decrease in bone density and can lead to osteoporosis. Drinking 150 ml of coffee leads to a loss of about 5 milligrams of calcium. However, the calcium loss caused by drinking coffee can be counterbalanced by adding two tablespoons of milk to your cup of coffee or eating a small amount of yogurt with it.
Coffee causes wrinkles.
Although coffee contains antioxidants, excessive consumption can lead to wrinkling of the skin. This is because coffee is a diuretic, and drinking too much coffee can cause dehydration. When you become dehydrated, your skin loses moisture and elasticity, and wrinkles appear. So, if you drink a cup of coffee in the morning, be sure to drink a glass of water afterward. It's especially recommended to soak a tablespoon of chia leaves in a cup of water for half an hour. After soaking, drink the liquid with the seeds. In addition to providing regular water intake, chia seeds protect the body from dehydration.
Coffee can cause weight gain.
The caffeine in coffee beans causes fluctuations in blood sugar levels. A sudden spike in blood sugar can lead to cravings for sweets and increased appetite. The temptation to have a piece of cake with your coffee makes your body anticipate the sugar rush with the first sip of coffee and the caffeine rush.
Traditional coffee is full of pesticides.
Coffee is one of the crops that farmers tend to spray regularly. Coffee plants are often full of pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals that are best avoided in the body. If you enjoy a cup of coffee from time to time, choose an organic coffee blend that has not been sprayed or pest-controlled. Pesticides are harmful to the body and can cause illness. Switching to decaf coffee isn't a sufficient solution; decaf coffee blends can also contain pesticides. Choose organic coffee blends, whether regular or decaf.