Coffee is as loved as it is disowned. It can cause tachycardia, but it’s also science-approved to aid weight loss, in case you’re looking to shed a few extra pounds. If so, and you want to follow healthy, science-approved diets, read on.
Since the discovery of this drink, back in the 12th century in Abyssinia, Ethiopia, it has been surrounded by many diverse opinions. At that time, it had very peculiar effects, which made some people adore it and others hate it, literally. They even said it was from the devil.
However, thanks to technology and science, many of the coffee myths have been dispelled or confirmed. Of course, there is still a lot to check, but we have certainly come a long way since then.
An excellent book to learn about the history of this century-old brew a little more is The Seven Aromas of the World, by Alfred Bosch, which is a story of a man who travels to all the places where coffee was grown in the seventeenth century to create the best coffee in the world. In the book, you can see how they treated coffee, which is both interesting and strange.
Many negative things have been said about coffee. Fortunately for some, as time progresses and more and more studies are done on this drink, it seems that the benefits far outweigh the harm it can cause. We’ll look at a few reasons to incorporate it into your daily diet (if you still need some).
Helps fight depression
Coffee helps reduce the risk of suffering from depression, not only because of its delicious taste that can brighten your day and improve your mood. The causes are really unknown, but a Harvard University study found that the risk of depression in women decreases by 20% in those who drink coffee regularly and abundantly, about four cups of that drink a day or more.
It is a natural diuretic
A diuretic is a substance that is capable of expelling water and salt from your kidneys through urine. This has many benefits, the main ones being cleansing the body and controlling blood pressure. Coffee helps with fluid retention, reduces cellulite, and eliminates toxins. If you want to know about other natural diuretics, you can visit these 16 diuretic foods to stay healthy in Nutrition without more.
Improves brain function
Caffeine, the main ingredient in coffee, is the most widely consumed psychoactive in the world. When we have coffee, caffeine acts in the brain. It blocks a neurotransmitter, adenosine, which causes other substances such as dopamine or norepinephrine to increase. This accelerates brain activity.
Various researches done on people show that this concoction stimulates different functions of the brain. Memory, mood, alertness, energy levels, reaction speeds, and general cognitive performance are all included. And, as is known, coffee keeps us awake for a longer period.
It is an excellent ally in our diets
Caffeine is one of the ingredients in most dietary supplements that help burn fat. Interestingly, it is one of the few natural substances that contribute to weight loss.
Also, its caloric content is minimal and really insignificant, so you can consume it without any guilt if you are on a diet. I favor finishing it strong, without sugar or milk, but if you add skim or vegetable milk and sweetener, it will not provide many calories either.
Reduces the likelihood of developing several diseases
Really, this drink is magic. You can prevent type 2 diabetes, some types of cancer, Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular disease, and even slow the aging process. This is due, among other reasons, to the high content of antioxidants that it contributes to our body, the large number of essential nutrients it contains, and the fact that it removes free radicals from the body, capable of damaging cells causing alterations in the body.
