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Why Coffee is a Wonder Drug. By Our Wide Awake, Coffee Drinking Student Pharmacist, Abbey Strazar.

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It is common knowledge that many Americans do not get their recommended eight hours of sleep each night, which typically leads to a work day full of yawning.

In order to counteract this feeling of fatigue, many people share a common yearning for a warm cup of coffee to brighten their day. We all know that the caffeine in coffee helps us stay awake, however, what many people are not aware of is the other added benefits that this universal dark liquid offers.

I am here to share these added perks with you.

1) Coffee can improve energy levels.

Caffeine blocks the inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain called adenosine. This reaction causes an increase in the “feel good” neurotransmitters, dopamine and norepinephrine. These neurotransmitters help improve energy levels, memory, mood, and general cognitive function.

2) Coffee can increase metabolism.

Coffee has been shown to increase the metabolic rate by as much as 3-11%, which may help to burn fat. This is probably the reason why caffeine is found in many weight loss supplements. However, this effect is thought to diminish with long term consumption.

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3) Coffee can improve physical performance.

Caffeine causes the nervous system to be activated by releasing epinephrine into the blood stream. This neurotransmitter causes the “fight or flight” response which increases physical performance. Caffeine is also believed to cause a release of fatty acids from fat tissues. It is recommended to drink a cup of strong coffee 30 minutes to one hour prior to physical activity.

4) Coffee provides essential nutrients, including:

  • Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
  • Vitamin B6
  • Manganese and Potassium
  • Magnesium and Niacin

5) Coffee may lower the risk of certain chronic diseases or illnesses, including: 

  • Type II Diabetes

Huxley R et al., “Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee, and Tea Consumption in Relations to Incident Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus,” was a review that looked at 18 different observational studies. Diabetes is characterized as having too much sugar within the blood stream. As a result, it has been shown that a daily cup of coffee can decrease the risk of type II diabetes by 7%. Further randomized controlled studies are needed.

  • Alzheimer’s and Dementia

Alzheimer’s disease typically affects individuals 65 years and older and is the number one cause of dementia within the United States. It has been observed that eating a healthy diet, exercising, and drinking caffeine can help reduce the risk of developing this disease.

  • Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease that causes the loss of dopamine-generating neurons within the brain. Like Alzheimer’s disease, there is no cure. It has been shown that the caffeine within coffee helps decrease the risk of developing the disease. Caffeine has also been shown to improve movement disorders that are associated with the disease.

  • Liver Disease

The liver is responsible for many different things within the body including metabolizing medications, producing cholesterol, and eliminating toxic substances, including alcohol. Like any other organ system, there are diseases that target the liver, such as hepatitis and fatty liver disease. Both of these conditions can cause cirrhosis of the liver, for which the only cure is transplantation. It had been shown that individuals who drink four cups of coffee per day can have up to an 80% lower risk of developing cirrhosis.

  • Depression

Many Americans are clinically diagnosed with being depressed. Drinking coffee is believed to help with depression while decreasing the risk of suicide. As stated previously, caffeine causes an increase in the feel good neurotransmitters, dopamine and norepinephrine.

  • Heart disease and stroke

Caffeine is a stimulant and can slightly raise an individual’s blood pressure by 3-4 mmHg. However, if you are a regular coffee drinker this increase in blood pressure typically goes away. There is some evidence that females who drink coffee on a regular basis have a reduced risk of heart disease and stroke.

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6) Coffee may help you live longer.

In, “The Relationship of Coffee Consumption with Mortality,” by Lopez-Garcia E et al, it was shown that men who drank coffee regularly had a 20% lower risk of death and women had a 26% lower risk, over a period of 18-24 years. This phenomenon seems to be particularly strong in Type II diabetes, where it has been found to lower the risk of death by 30%.

7) Coffee is a great source of antioxidants.

Coffee is one of the biggest sources of antioxidants in the Western diet. Studies have shown that many Americans get more antioxidants from coffee than both fruits and vegetables.

So Drink Up!

 

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