March 10, 2024: Coffee, Yes or No?
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This week, most of the United States will move their clocks forward one hour, allowing for an extra hour of sunlight, but an hour loss of sleep. If you weren’t reaching for the coffee before, this may be the week you’ll need a little extra boost. And you’re not alone - roughly 85% of Americans drink coffee. But is it good for you? This week, we’re going to talk about whether coffee is healthy or something you should avoid.
Illegal sex and other stuff
Coffee’s reputation has been a back-and-forth discussion of if it’s good for you or bad for you, dating all the way back to the 1500s when it was rumored to lead to illegal sex (whoa). But the most recent studies have found more benefits to drinking coffee than causes for concern.
Caffeine is a fast-acting stimulant that activates your central nervous system within 15 minutes of consuming it and can last up to 6 hours. The upside of this is it’s been linked to better cognitive performance, but the downside is your nervous system develops a tolerance. While this tolerance is not recognized as an addiction, anyone that drinks coffee regularly knows the effects of caffeine withdrawal.
So, what are the latest findings?
The research has shown drinking 3-4 cups of coffee a day is not only safe, it’s been linked to a lowered risk of heart disease and premature death than for those who don’t drink coffee. Further, the multiple studies done on coffee and your health have also shown it can decrease your risks of stroke, Alzheimer’s Disease, type-2 diabetes, liver disease, and multiple sclerosis. The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health also found drinking 4+ cups per day has notably lessened the risk of early death from colorectal cancer.
Decaf is good too!
But not everyone associates coffee as the delicious beverage that wakes you up. For those who struggle with the jitters, heartburn, or anxiety because of the caffeine, the good news is that many of these benefits were also found in decaf! This has researchers associating the benefits with the antioxidants found in coffee rather than the caffeine.
Coffee is the largest source of antioxidants for those who consume it, and it contains some of the most powerful antioxidants with the greatest benefits, including hydroxycinnamic acids and polyphenols. What are those good for, you ask? Our bodies undergo constant attacks by scavenger molecules searching for electrons known as free radicals. Free radicals can damage cells, proteins, and even DNA. Hydrocinnamic acid and polyphenols counteract these free radicals and prevent the chemical imbalance they cause, in turn, reducing the risk of diseases.
The jury is still out on whether the antioxidants in coffee are responsible for the health benefits studies continue to find. But what we can say is that the more research that has been done, the more the scales lean in favor of coffee being beneficial to your health.
All in all, if you’re a regular coffee drinker, chances are you’re reducing your risk of certain diseases. Just make sure you’re not countering those effects by dousing your coffee with sugar or creamers that are high in sugar and fat or drinking it at night when the caffeine can interrupt sleep.
Next Sunday, we’ll talk about my three gym bag staples for an enjoyable workout.
Want some expert help with reaching your health goals painlessly? Check out my programs! We’ll get everything taken care of in a way that fits into your current lifestyle so you never have to think about your health again. Love reading? I have books, too. Check out my books!
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I hope you have a wonderful week,
Kelly
My weekly GYSTS email give you one actionable thing to do for the week that will make you life a little easier. As "they" say, "Fail to plan; plan to fail." Get these emails (and more!) delivered right to your inbox by clicking HERE.