I just knew there was a reason why I loved my morning cup-o-Joe so much (other than avoiding a mid-day headache). In January’s edition of Southern Living, there was an article on the best perks of coffee. Being a researcher (and a constant critic), I investigated to confirm some advantages, for your enjoyment:1- Coffee may reduce your chance of developing diabetes: People who drink 3-4 cups of coffee a day are 25% less likely to develop Type 2 diabetes (Sidebar- still go easy on the sugar & flavored syrups).
2- Coffee helps reduce muscle soreness after workouts: A dose of caffeine (equal to 2 cups of coffee) reduces post-exercise muscle soreness by half. (Sidebar- I still question this one since caffeine is a dehydrator)
3- Coffee is a great source of antioxidants: Antioxidants help protect your body from heart disease, stroke, & a slew of other diseases.
4- Coffee is a brain booster: Coffee increases short-term memory recall, (Sidebar-long-term memory recall is NOT enhanced with coffee). People who drink 3-5 cups of coffee a day are 65% less likely to develop dementia & Alzheimer’s disease. (Sidebar, again- I have also read that men, only men, who drink 5-6 cups of coffee a day- yes that is a lot of coffee- reduce the risks of Parkinson's Disease by up to 80%)
5- Coffee may reduce your risk for developing some cancers: Coffee drinkers are 50% less likely to get liver cancer than non-coffee drinkers. There is also evidence that coffee consumption is linked to lower rates of colon & breast cancers.
So, bottoms up! Go get your morning coffee!
Have a great weekend!
Have a great weekend!
