This is a guest post by Dripped Coffee, with a coffee infographic on coffee addiction.
Do you ever wonder why you’re so quick to reach for the coffee pot? Is it because you love the rich aroma, the velvety taste, or is it something else?
Could it be that you are reaching for the coffee pot because you’re looking for the effects of the caffeine?
It’s certainly a possibility and over the years, we’ve been made to feel guilty for that; like we are doing something bad for our bodies.
The truth is, caffeine is actually a good addition to a healthy diet. Our minds associate coffee with the energy boost we get from the caffeine and the effects on our brains like improved mental focus, improved memory, and of course feeling more alert.
Is it too much of a stretch to think that our minds were subconsciously telling us that caffeine isn’t a problem all along? Perhaps, but the fact is, caffeine isn’t a problem.
In fact, it has many benefits for an active mind and a healthy body.
Take a look at Dripped Coffee’s fun and factual coffee infographic for everything you need to know about how your caffeine addiction is benefiting you.
Text only version:
13 Reasons Why Your Brain Craves Coffee
Your brain craves coffee because it knows better.
Quick Facts:
Coffee is the second most traded commodity in the whole world, second only to crude oil.
People in the UK drink around 70 million cups of coffee per day, compared to 165 million cups of tea. The average British male coffee drinker drinks 13 cups per week, while an average female coffee drinker consumes 11 cups.
1: Boosts Energy
When adenosine binds with its adenosine receptor, you feel DROWSY. When caffeine comes in, the receptor binds with caffeine instead of adenosine. Which means around 15 minutes later, you get more energy.
2: Reduces Suicide Risk & Depression
A study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health found that women who drink 4 or more cups of coffee per day were 20% less likely to suffer from depression.
3: Strengthens DNA
According to the study published by the European Journal of Nutrition, white blood cells of coffee drinkers are less likely to undergo spontaneous DNA strand breakage.
4: Reduces Cravings
Coffee can suppress your appetite. Try drinking some coffee if you find yourself craving food or going for seconds at meals.
5: Burns Calories.
Sipping coffee in conjunction with a workout will stimulate thermogenesis and burn more calories and fat in your body.
6: Improves Your Focus.
Caffeine’s effect kicks in only after 5 minutes, which gives you more energy and a stronger ability to focus.
7: Stimulates the Central Nervous System.
The caffeine in coffee is the most commonly consumed psychoactive substance worldwide.
8: Coffee Could be a Lifesaver.
3 to 5 cups of coffee per say is thought to lead to 15% lower death rates.
9: It’s Healthy
Coffee is an incredibly healthy beverage packed with hundreds of biologically active compounds, including caffeine, chlorogenic acid, trigonelline, cafestol, and kahweol.
10: Reduces Risk of…
- Alzheimer’s
- Heart Disease
- Gout
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Parkinson’s (in men only).
11: Brightens Mood and Vigilance.
Several research papers have shown that caffeine in coffee may increase the amount and activity of the brain chemical serotonin.
12: Improves Short-Term Memory
A study from Johns Hopkins University found consuming the amount of caffeine found in one or two cups of coffee boosts a person’s memory for new information by roughly 10 percent.
13: Biggest Source of Antioxidants.
Studies have shown that we absorb far more antioxidants from a cup of coffee than from a cup of green tea or a plate of fresh fruit and vegetables.
References:
https://authoritynutrition.com/top-13-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-coffee/
https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/118984
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/expert-answers/caffeine/faq-20058459
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2912010
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24740588
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf404285v
http://www.shape.com/lifestyle/mind-and-body/your-brain-coffee
http://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/diet-tips/ask-diet-doctor-workout-benefits-coffee
Also see: 23+ Health Benefits And Disadvantages Of Coffee
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