We crave it. We guzzle it. Yes, I’m talking about coffee.
It makes us feel like we can handle that overbearing boss or that pack of sugar-high toddlers. The stuff is just really good, but then we feel guilty for having those few cups…
In many people’s minds, anything this good must be bad. WRONG! In reality, it’s not the guilty pleasure everyone makes it out to be — believe it or not, caffeine side effects can do you good. So feel free to grab that extra large venti breakfast blend on your way to work.
Here are eight reasons to start your day with this beverage:
1. It may lower your risk of death
Okay, so this may be a little morbid: we’re all going to die eventually, but coffee may help you add a couple years to your life. It appears to lengthen the “when” for individuals with certain chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, according to a large 2012 study. The study found that the more coffee (three or more cups a day), the lower the risk of death regardless of whether participants drank caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee.
2. It helps make your reproductive systems happy
Ladies, if you’re looking to lower your risk of endometrial cancer, then keep that coffee habit going! A study published in the Journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention found that women who drank more than four cups of coffee a day had a 25 percent lower risk of endometrial cancer.
3. It helps protect your brain
According to a 2009 study, coffee drinkers are more likely to resist development of dementia and Alzheimer’s later in life. Another study done on rats found that just the smell of coffee helped to reduce stress that was associated with loss of sleep. So, if you’re smiling next time you roll out of bed and walk toward the coffee pot, there may be a reason why!
4. It’s great for your skin
Yeah, I never thought coffee would be beneficial for your skin. Drinking coffee may help you to ward off the most diagnosed form of skin cancer! A study in the journal Cancer Research that looked specifically at the caffeine in coffee demonstrated that coffee drinkers had a lower risk of developing basal cell carcinoma.
5. It may help you strengthen your muscles — and your DNA
A study in the journal Cell Metabolism found that caffeine actually had a similar effect to our DNA molecules in our muscles as exercise. That does not mean you can stop exercising, sorry ladies! The study looked specifically at DNA changes of muscles in sedentary individuals and found that positive effects from coffee were similar to effects derived from exercise.
What do love coffee so much? Share your thoughts will us on Facebook and Twitter: @LucilleRoberts
Courtesy of Huffington Post
