Coffee has been popular on these shores since the 17th century, but in recent decades it has reached modern heights, including: more people drinking regularly than tea in 2022–2023– Statista reports. With today’s best coffee machines by delivering cafe-quality coffee to your home, the average Brit is now drinking a refreshing cup of coffee two cups of coffee a day. The question is: is all this coffee affecting our health, for better or worse?
As we’ll see, coffee gives us energy and may even provide some protection against some diseases and health problems. However, it’s not for everyone, and there are several variables that can affect how coffee affects your health. For example, the type of coffee bean and the brewing method can affect the nutrient content.
Is coffee a hearty drink?
The health benefits of coffee result from its richness in micronutrients, including:
Potassium (92mg per 100ml) – It may reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure. It provides comprehensive health benefits, including improved kidney and nervous system function.
Magnesium (8mg) – Supports bone health and circulatory health. May relieve anxiety, depression and migraines.
Manganese (0.05 mg) – It can lend a hand maintain hearty hormonal function, blood sugar levels, and cholesterol levels. It supports the formation of antioxidants and plays a role in the digestion of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
Niacin / B3 (0.7 mg) – Responsible for the health of the skin, nervous system and digestion.
It also contains trace amounts of the trace element riboflavin (B2), but not enough to cover the daily requirement.
As we all know, coffee also contains the stimulant caffeine. Many people find that caffeine can improve their mood and concentration – on the other hand, some may experience jitters or even anxiety. An average shot of espresso provides approximately 65 mg of caffeinewhile longer drinks like lattes and americanos often contain double or even triple that amount.
Despite the caffeine, however, there are dietary benefits to choosing unsweetened black coffee over most other caffeinated drinks. The lack of sugar and fat means there are virtually no calories, whereas many sodas and energy drinks are loaded with sugar and are therefore quite caloric.
Coffee also remains a better option than “diet” gentle drinks because the health effects of sweeteners in such drinks are not fully understood. For example, the World Health Organization classifies the artificial sweetener aspartame as “possibly carcinogenic”. Meanwhile, coffee is being considered it is unlikely to increase a person’s risk of cancer.
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