99 Benefits Of Coffee – Part 6 of 11

There is more and more to know about coffee, and the more we know the more we are able to decide the best for us.

Read on to know more about the benefits of coffee.

1. Coffee can protect from liver fibrosis

Coffee can do much more than wake you up good in the morning.

Researchers found out that coffee is effective in preventing liver fibrosis and other liver diseases.

But that’s not all. Even better, coffee can improve the condition to those who already suffer from liver fibrosis.

When your body digests caffeine, it makes a chemical called paraxanthine that slows the growth of the scar tissue involved in fibrosis. That may help fight liver cancer and other liver diseases.

2. Coffee can reduce risk of liver cancer

Studies had shown, over and over again over the last two decades, that there is close relation between coffee consumption and risk of liver cancer, and in 6 studies the association was statistically significant. Overall, an increase in consumption of 2 cups of coffee per day was associated with a 43% reduced risk of liver cancer.

Two chemicals in coffee, kahweol and cafestol, may help fight cancer. Doctors aren’t sure how powerful the effect is, but some think moderate amounts of unsweetened coffee could work alongside the main treatments for the most common kind of liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma

3. Coffee can help patients with Hepatitis C

A study published in the journal Gastroenterology found that people with hepatitis C who drank three or more cups of coffee a day were 2 times more likely to respond to their treatment than those who didn’t drink coffee. Exactly how coffee affects liver disease is not fully understood, Muir says. But if you like coffee, enjoy that cup of joe knowing it may be helping your liver.

Credit to: NutritionFacts.org

4. Coffee can lower the risk of Basal Cell Carcinoma

Basal Cell Carcinoma is the most common type of caner.

The findings of one study suggest a modest protective effect for caffeinated coffee plus tea in relation to early-onset BCC that may, in part, be due to caffeine.

The subjects with the highest consumption of coffee had 43% reduced risk of BCC compared to non-consumers.

Drinking decaffeinated coffee did not have any effect on skin cancer risk, which leads researchers to suspect caffeine is the key ingredient.

5. Coffee can make you feel more alert

The main compound of coffee, caffeine, is a strong stimulant that is absorbed into the intestinal tract and blood. The peak absorption occurs in less than an hour, usually thirty minutes after you had your cup of coffee.

Once absorbed and rapidly distributed throughout our bodies, it stimulates the nerves and causes adrenalin to be released.

Once absorbed, it is rapidly distributed into all of your body’s fluids, then processed by your liver and eventually excreted in urine.

Adrenalin is the main neuro-transmitter that changes your levels of energy and alertness.

Caffeine also directly stimulates the spinal cord and the cortex of the brain, which enhances these alert feelings.

Many people experience a dip in energy several hours after drinking coffee. Though scientists aren’t exactly certain why this happens, a possible explanation may be that, after the effects of caffeine wear off, your brain needs to adjust to working without the stimulus the caffeine provided.

6. Coffee help your body process glucose (sugar) better

The health benefits of coffee for diabetes differs from case to case.

Researchers at Harvard tracked over 100,000 people for about 20 years. They concentrated on a four-year period, and their conclusions were later published in this 2014 study.

They found that people who increased their coffee intake by over one cup per day had an 11 percent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

However, people who reduced their coffee intake by one cup per day increased their risk of developing diabetes by 17 percent. There was no difference in those drinking tea.

It’s not clear why coffee has such an impact on the development of diabetes.

Thinking caffeine? It may not be responsible for those good benefits. In fact, caffeine has been shown in the short term to increase both glucose and insulin levels.

In one small study involving men, decaffeinated coffee even showed an acute rise in blood sugar. Right now there are limited studies and more research needs to be done on the effects of caffeine and diabetes.

Taking up drinking coffee in order to stave off diabetes won’t guarantee you a good result. But if you already drink coffee, it may not hurt.

Try reducing the amount of sugar or fat you drink with your coffee. Also talk with your doctor about diet options, exercise, and the effects that drinking coffee might have.

7. Coffee contains essential nutrients

Coffee naturally contains a variety of compounds including caffeine, antioxidants and diterpenes. These contribute not only to the unique flavor but also to the well-researched physiological effects of coffee.

All these and many more nutrients of coffee are related to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, liver diseases, and Alzheimer’s, and overall, a moderate consumption of coffee, equivalent to 3-5 cups per day, has been linked with many health benefits and it can be fit for a healthy, balanced diet and active lifestyle.

The following nutrition information is provided by the USDA for 1 cup (270g) of black coffee with no cream or sugar added.

Calories: 1
Fat: 0g
Sodium: 6mg
Carbohydrates: 0g
Fiber: 0g
Sugars: 0g
Protein: 0.3g

Coffee only becomes a dietary concern when you start adding ingredients such as milk, flavorings, syrups, sugar, and whipped cream. By this point, a single coffee drink can pack as many calories and fat as an extra-large slice of cake.