Coffee and Health

By: Stephen Anton

For fans, it’s hard to imagine a day without it. With an estimated 450 million cups of coffee consumed in the U.S. each day, coffee is by far a favorite of many.
It comes in so many delicious ways, black, with cream, with sugar, or even a skinny latte. There is something powerful and relaxing about sipping a steaming cup.

But, with so many studies yielding conflicting results, you may be wondering if drinking coffee is really good for you.
The good news is that study after study indicate that this ancient beverage, dating back to the 15th century, is full of substances that may help enhance your mood, your athletic performance, and even reduce risk of health conditions, such as cognitive decline, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.
⠀
You might not know, but caffeine aids in fat burning, since it can boost your metabolic rate by 3 – 10%. It also helps breaks down body fat, making ketones from free fatty acids available as fuel.
⠀
Certainly, when we think about coffee, caffeine is the first substance that comes to mind, but coffee contains hundreds of antioxidants and other active substances that may protect against disease. In fact, studies show that it is one of the largest sources of antioxidants in the human diet.
⠀
Welcome news! Coffee contains essential nutrients, which make their way into your brewed coffee, such as Vitamin B2, B5, B3, and minerals such as Manganese and Potassium.

Unfortunately, many coffee beans are sprayed with pesticides, which can negate some of the positive effects of coffee.
⠀
So if you want to include coffee as part of your healthy lifestyle, try to get the highest quality organic coffee you can find. And, if you really want to take your coffee drinking to another level you can look for single-source organic coffee.
As with everything, too much of a good thing can become a bad thing. So know your limits and try to only consume coffee earlier in the day so that the caffeine doesn’t interfere with your sleep.