10 Benefits of Coffee You Should Know About!

Many people joke that they can't live without coffee, while others dislike it. Coffee has many benefits, but it also has side effects, especially if consumed in excess, which are all discussed in this health article.

What is Coffee?

Coffee is consumed as a beverage in many parts of the world. Made from coffee beans, coffee comes in various types and is rich in minerals and antioxidants. The most important active ingredient in coffee is caffeine. Once consumed, caffeine is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and directly affects the central nervous system. It first disrupts the activity of adenosine, which is responsible for feelings of fatigue and sleepiness, and then increases the production of norepinephrine and dopamine.

Norepinephrine is essential for maintaining alertness, controlling emotions, learning, and perception, while dopamine plays a role in motivation, energy, and pleasure. This is why students, during exam nights when they feel tired and unable to focus, find that drinking a cup of coffee helps them feel awake, improves their behavior and learning control, and boosts their energy and mood.

Various studies on humans have shown that coffee can impact brain function and improve aspects such as memory, mood, alertness, energy, and even reaction time and cognitive performance. Caffeine triggers the release of adrenaline, which boosts energy, metabolism, and vitality. This is why many people feel energized, happy, and motivated to take on more activities after drinking a cup of coffee in the morning or after a long workday.

Health Benefits of Coffee

Is coffee good or bad for your health? You may have wondered this and, after searching online, encountered many different answers! Some people consider coffee beneficial due to its high antioxidant content, while others, because of side effects like heart palpitations, don't consider types like espresso, Turkish, or French coffee and view it as harmful. In this article, we will answer this question by highlighting 12 benefits of coffee (regardless of the type—espresso, French, or Turkish).

Coffee's Effect on Short-Term Memory

The second significant benefit of coffee is its ability to enhance short-term memory. A study conducted by a group of Austrian researchers on volunteers found that participants who consumed 100 mg of caffeine daily (the amount in one cup of coffee) had better short-term memory performance than others. While precise details on how caffeine works on the brain were not uncovered in this experiment, it was clear that caffeine influences specific areas of the brain related to short-term memory and cognitive enhancement.

Reducing the Risk of Heart Disease

Another benefit of coffee is its ability to reduce the risk of heart disease. A study conducted in the Netherlands on 37,000 people over 13 years found that drinking 2 to 4 cups of coffee daily (regardless of whether it's espresso, cappuccino, Americano, French, or Turkish) reduces the risk of heart disease by 20%. Coffee’s anti-inflammatory properties help lower arterial damage caused by inflammation, which in turn reduces heart disease risk.

Reducing the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

One of coffee's key benefits is its ability to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. A study conducted in 2009 found that drinking 4 cups of coffee daily reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 50%. Scientists attribute this to coffee's anti-inflammatory properties, the presence of caffeic acid, and its protection of insulin-producing cells.

Coffee’s Role in Reducing Liver Diseases

Coffee is also beneficial in reducing the risk of liver diseases, including liver cancer. Studies suggest that drinking 4 cups of coffee daily can reduce liver disease risks. Coffee is inversely related to liver enzyme levels, meaning that higher coffee consumption results in lower liver enzyme levels, which are typically elevated during liver inflammation.

Improving Physical and Athletic Performance

Athletes often receive advice from trainers to consume caffeine before and after workouts. Drinking 500 mg of caffeine daily (equivalent to about 5 cups of coffee) helps increase endurance, strengthens muscle contractions, improves physical performance, and reduces muscle pain.

Coffee’s Effect on Reducing Depression

Research has shown that there is an inverse relationship between coffee consumption and the risk of depression. Drinking coffee reduces the risk of depression by 20%. This effect is due to the regulation of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin.

Coffee’s Role in Gout Prevention

Coffee also plays a significant role in reducing the risk of gout. A study involving 90,000 nurses over 26 years found that those who drank more than 4 cups of coffee daily had a 57% lower risk of developing gout. Similarly, men who drank 4 to 5 cups of coffee daily had a 40% lower risk, and those who drank 6 cups had a 60% lower risk of gout.