Coffee is delicious, and good for you.
Here’s what a registered dietitian has to say about the benefits of coffee and its side effects.
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The most frequently used appliance in my kitchen is not the stove or the microwaveit is the coffee maker.
allergist, immunologist, and medical advisor with theAllergy &
I cannot imagine a morning without acup of joe.
Coffee, it seems, is the only substance that grants me the ability to function at full capacity.
Is there now something wrong with my morning habit?
What are the benefits of coffee?
And each cup includes an impressive array of health benefits:
1.
It gives your brain a jolt of energy.
Yes, due in part to the large dose of caffeine, but its a little more complicated.
Coffee is rich in essential nutrients.
Its packed with antioxidants.
allergist, immunologist, and medical advisor with theAllergy &
Antioxidants can helpreduce inflammation and mortality risk.
(hey eat some more fruits and vegetables!)
Due to its potent antioxidant and caffeine content, coffee may help combat chronic illness, including cancer.
Theres also strong evidence of coffee being connected tobetter cognitive functionand mental stimulation.
Its a great pre-workout beverage.
Beckerman says coffeecan help boost physical performance.
It stimulates your nervous system and signals fat cells to break down body fat, she says.
It also increases epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, which mayhelp you run (or cycle) faster.
Coffee may help with seasonal allergies.
This icing-on-the-cake perk is largely due to coffees potent caffeine content.
And the same thing happens in your head.
Caffeine is especially helpful when taken with other allergy medicines, especially the kind that make you drowsy.
Theres some links with coffeepreventing dementiaandcoffee preventing cancers.
And most are related to the amount of caffeine each cup contains.
Caffeine stimulates your nervous system, and in excess, can potentially triggeryour fight-or-flight response, making anxiety worse.
This isnt the case for everyone; some people can drink coffee all day and have no issues whatsoever.
Butfor people who have existing issues with anxiety, coffee can exacerbate the problem.
Caffeine also stimulates your heart rate and breathing, which Beckerman says can make people feel jumpy.
Its also an addictive substance.
When people drink [coffee] often, they can become tolerant to it, Beckerman says.
Then when you take away coffee, she says people might experience symptoms of withdrawal.
Coffee affects everyone a bit differently, making some people more sensitive to its potential ill effects than others.
So dont be super concerned by these potential downsides.
Limit your intake to a reasonable amount and you should be good to go.
Whats the best way to drink it to reap the most benefits of coffee?
(Sorry, youre probably going to have to pee a lot.)
How do you know whenand how muchis best for you?
Okay, so coffee definitely has some good-for-you cred.
So how much is the right amount to drink for the most benefits?
People metabolize it at different speeds, Dr. Reardon says.
So theres a variation when people should consume coffee.
He adds that when too much is consumedand at the wrong timeitslinked to causing high blood pressure.
So how do you know where you fall?
If you feel its effects almost immediately?
That means you metabolize coffee quickly.
Whereas if it takes a bit to kick in, you likely metabolize it on the slower side.
Coffee drinkers, rejoice!
you’re free to keep sipping in peace.
If anyone needs me, Ill be cracking open a cold brew to get through the afternoon.
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