The Surprising Health Benefits of Coffee, Backed by Science

The Surprising Health Benefits of Coffee, Backed by Science

If you're like most of us, you love having a cup of coffee to kickstart your morning. It helps you feel focused, wakes up your brain, and gets you feeling just a tad more excited about your busy day.

But did you know that drinking coffee every morning has astounding health benefits?

Keep reading to check out some of the ways coffee boosts your health and well-being.

It's Packed with Antioxidants

Antioxidants are key in protecting your body from aging, oxidative damage, and even cancer. You may think of leafy greens or colorful fruits when you hear someone talking about antioxidants. But those aren't the only foods packed with these nutrients.

One of the incredible health benefits of coffee is that it's rich in antioxidants.

Just one cup every day gives you a flood of these protective molecules. In fact, a 2013 study found that naturally roasted coffee is packed with as many antioxidants as green tea!

So, don't panic too much if you're someone who struggles getting enough fruits and vegetables every day. Your coffee habit is helping you out when it comes to meeting your daily antioxidant intake.

Helps You Maintain a Healthy Weight

There are conflicting opinions out there about coffee and weight loss. And if you're someone who wants to be at a healthy weight, but also loves coffee, you might be wondering what science has to say about it.

Well, we've got good news. Coffee can speed up your metabolism and help you keep off those extra pounds.

A study by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that drinking coffee can help you reach your weight loss goals—specifically noting that four cups of coffee a day reduced body fat by about 4%.

That means that wonderful cup of java you look forward to each day is keeping you leaner, too!

Improves Brain Power

We all drink coffee for that caffeine-kick to fuel us through our days. Too much caffeine can be a bad thing, but moderate amounts of caffeine boost your mood and brain power.

Caffeine has significant short-term benefits, which is probably why we gravitate towards it in our groggy-morning state.

Research has shown that caffeine boosts memory in young adults, especially in the early morning when they need it most.

But what about long-term benefits?

A review in Practical Neurology notes that lifelong coffee consumption is associated with the prevention of cognitive decline, including a lower risk of developing stroke, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's disease.

Your coffee habit, along with a healthy diet, can help you stay more focused, improve your memory, and support long-term brain health.

Powers You Through Your Workouts

Fitness is an important part of lifelong health—and remarkably, coffee can help you reach your workout goals.

A study in the Journal of Sports Medicine found that low doses of caffeine (under 200mg) before exercise can improve short-term high intensity training. It also noted that small doses of caffeine can improve performance in prolonged exercise.

This means a regular-sized cup of coffee offers excellent benefits for your workout performance.

Coffee Protects Your Liver

Our livers work hard every day to clean our blood and keep our bodies functioning well.

Surprisingly, coffee offers significant protection for your liver.

A study in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hepatology found that drinking two or more cups of coffee a day is linked to:  

The reasons behind this benefit aren't fully understood, but research is clear: coffee is a powerful ally for liver health.

Coffee Can Help You Live Longer

One of the most extraordinary benefits of coffee is that it may help you live longer.

A meta-analysis from the European Journal of Epidemiology concluded that drinking two to four cups of coffee a day is linked to lower rates of all-cause mortality compared to those who drink no coffee at all.

Interestingly, the effect applies to both caffeinated and decaf coffee—so even if you're cutting back on caffeine, the benefits remain.

Choose Cold Brew for Even Healthier Coffee

Cold brew coffee has all the benefits of regular coffee but is brewed slowly at room temperature or in the fridge, making it smoother, fuller in flavor, and lower in acidity.

Because of this, cold brew is easier on the stomach, still rich in antioxidants, and may even benefit immune health.

If you want to enjoy the boosted health benefits of cold brew, check out our specialty grade, artisan-roasted cold brew growlers. Since cold brew is naturally sweeter, you can even enjoy it without adding sugar.

The Takeaway

The health benefits of coffee make it an unlikely hero. It's packed with antioxidants, helps maintain a healthy weight, protects your liver, fuels your workouts, and improves your brain power.

Most of us would never guess our daily coffee habit could be doing so much for our health—but research tells a different story.

Of course, drinking excessive amounts of anything isn't good for you. But enjoying a moderate amount of coffee can boost your well-being and make you a happier, healthier person.