I recently wrote an article on the most popular drink in the world after water. Although coffee is not the most popular drink in the world after water, it is one of the most popular.
Coffee beans are the seeds of berries from the Coffea plant, native to tropical Africa, and Madagascar, the Comoros, Mauritius, and Réunion in the Indian Ocean. It was originally cultivated here in Africa before it was exported to other countries. Now, it is grown in over 70 countries.
The coffee we drink is brewed from roasted coffee beans. Coffee is mostly drunk hot, but iced coffee, canned coffee, and bottled coffee are also sold around the world.
In Nigeria, we favour instant coffee as opposed to brewing our own at home. Nescafé, the most popular instant coffee brand in the world, is the leading brand here too.
Being a coffee lover myself, I thought it necessary to remind us of 12 scientifically proven reasons why coffee is actually great for everyone:
1. Coffee has a stimulating effect that helps wake you up.
2. Coffee reduces the kind of inflammation that causes disease, typically brought on by aging.
3. Coffee strengthens your brain. Researchers discovered participants who drank 3 to 5 cups of coffee per day had about a 65% decreased chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease or dementia later on in life.
4. Coffee protects your heart, with a cup or two per day significantly lowering your risk of cardiovascular disease-related death.
5. Coffee provides antioxidants for your body. Yes, fruits also contain antioxidants but our bodies seem to absorb the most from coffee. Now isn’t that something?
6. Another upside of coffee drinking is that coffee can have the added bonus of contracting the colon, which helps you have regular bowel movements and avoid constipation.
7. Coffee reduces your risk of Parkinson’s disease and reduced symptoms in those who already have it.
8. Coffee protects the liver, especially for those who drink alcohol. It reduces the risk of developing liver cirrhosis — an autoimmune disease caused by excessive alcohol consumption that could lead to liver failure and cancer.
9. Coffee has been tied to lower suicide rates due to its anti-depressant qualities.
10. Coffee can lower the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by as much as 22% in people who drink 6 or more cups daily.
11. Coffee can make you feel happier, but it’s not just because of the “caffeine high” which you can also get from other caffeinated drinks. It’s believed to be more likely the result of the antioxidants with which each cup of coffee is loaded.
12. Coffee makes you sharper, improving your reflexes, alertness, focus and common sense- essentially making you more intelligent!
A new study says the caffeine is the most likely candidate when it comes to the protective effects of coffee.
As with most other things, moderation is key. You should stop taking coffee at least 8-10 hours before bedtime, and generally try not to consume too much daily.
Enjoy!