Do you start your day with a cup of coffee? If you’re like most Americans, you probably do. In fact, according to last year’s statistics, 64% of American adults drink coffee every day. (1) Many people even say that they aren’t ready for the day until they’ve had their trusty cup of joe.
Coffee gives you a morning caffeine boost that can help you start your day right – even if you’ve woken up on the wrong side of the bed. But besides giving you the energy you need to get through the morning – turns out, coffee also has a ton of other health benefits.
According to science, coffee can be beneficial to your health as well! In addition to improving your mood, energy levels, and general mental functions, coffee can also lower your risk of certain diseases. (2)
Research has shown that your daily cup of coffee can reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes. In fact, one study showed that “people who drink the most coffee can have a 23-50% lower risk of getting this disease.” (2) Diabetes affects millions of people worldwide – but a daily cup of coffee is an easy way to lower your risk of type 2 diabetes.
Drinking coffee can also lower your risk of getting Parkinson’s disease. Studies have shown that “higher coffee and caffeine intake is associated with a significantly lower incidence of Parkinson disease.” (3)
You know that drinking coffee makes you happy, but did you know that coffee drinkers are less likely to be depressed? It’s true. According to one 2018 study that followed a group of men and women for ten years, researchers found that “participants who consumed at least four cups of coffee per day showed a lower risk of depression than participants who drank less than one cup of coffee per day.” (4)
Coffee can also protect your liver, lower your risk for certain types of cancer, and could even lower your risk of having a stroke. (2) Your morning pick-me-up really is a miracle worker! And, it could even help you live longer.
Since coffee lowers your risk of disease, it only makes sense that it also helps you live longer. Studies show that drinking coffee can, in fact, lower your risk of early death. (5)
Coffee is packed with antioxidants, and since the average American drinks so much coffee, a huge portion of your daily antioxidants come from coffee. Thus, protecting your body and helping you live a long, healthy life. (5)
So, treat yourself to another cup of coffee today – because your coffee works harder than you think to keep you healthy and happy.
Do you drink your coffee before your morning workout or after? If you normally drink your coffee after your workout, you might want to change things up.
A recent study done at the University of Granada showed that consuming caffeine about half an hour before exercise increased the rate of fat-burning. They found that about as much caffeine as is in a strong coffee is the best way to maximize fat-burning. So, if you really want to get the most out of your morning workouts, wake up, enjoy your favorite strong coffee, then, 30 minutes later, start your cardio workout. (6)
The study explicitly looked at aerobic exercise and fat-burning, and found that coffee really kicks it up a notch. So, if you’re trying to lose weight, fasted cardio paired with your morning java can really do the trick. It’s a fat-burning combination that can really kick-start your weight loss goals.
Researchers also discovered that the time of day you exercise also affects the rate of fat-burning and the effectiveness of the cardio exercise.
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The participants did an exercise test four times, and before their workout, they ingested either a placebo, or 3 mg of caffeine. They tested the effects at both 8am and 5pm, and found that when exercise was performed in the afternoon, the fat-burning benefits were even more impressive than in the morning.
Researchers found that “the combination of acute caffeine intake and aerobic exercise performed at moderate intensity in the afternoon provides the optimal scenario for people seeking to increase fat-burning during physical exercise.” (6)
So, if you really want to optimize your workouts, and burn as much fat as possible, choose to workout in the afternoon, 30 minutes after drinking a strong cup of coffee. It’s a small adjustment, but research shows that it really does make a difference.
Whether you drink a classic iced coffee, a cold brew, or straight black coffee, make sure you drink it with a side of cardio – it’s an easy and effective way to burn more fat and stay healthy and happy as well.
Sources:
2 13 Health Benefits of Coffee
3 Association of Coffee and Caffeine Intake with the Risk of Parkinson Disease
