7 health benefits of coffee you may not know

Don't we just want a steaming cup of coffee in the morning? It can be vital to a  productive day as spending an hour at the gym. Well that steaming cup may not always work to your advantage as a 2011 study published in the Journal of Applied  Social Psychology suggests that coffee can deflate one's confidence and focus when the pressure is high, contrary to  caffeine-junk belief.

Okay don't frown if you like taking coffee a lot. or be excited if you don't like coffee. I only mentioned just one disadvantage, but the advantages may as well leverage the disadvantage. Some new studies have shown that coffee can be a very helpful stimulant if used properly, and may also help improve one's performance outside the office.

Now let's see the 7 health benefits of coffee and why you probably shouldn't quit on coffee yet.



Helps burn fat
It's not only Lipton without milk or sugar that does the trick. In fact, a 2013 study published in Nutrition and Metabolism, found that ingesting caffeine prior to physical activity arouses the body into fat-burning mode as opposed to energy-burning mood. Now you know coffee does more than just keep you awake. So if you want to shed off those fats, I suggest you take a cup of coffee or two before your workout.

Speeds up your recovery
I know you may have been investing a lot f hours on the gym just to get the fat out of your system, but this could sometimes lead to achy muscles. Soreness could get in the way of your next workout therefore impeding on your progress, but don't worry you can work on that. A 2013 study published in the Journal of Strength Conditioning and Research found muscles soreness to be significantly reduced following strength training in participants who had coffee an hour before hitting the gym.

Helps boost your endurance
This is particularly important for people who are into athletics or other sports or entertainment that requires endurance. You don't want to run at of gas too soon, especially in a competitive atmosphere. Two 2013 studies found coffee can help you work out stronger and longer. Research done in the United Kingdom found athletes who had a cup of coffee prior to their workout had a 5% faster performance time.

Improves memory
Are you planning to sit an exam and what you read just seem to not want to stick, you can try coffee.
A 2014 study found coffee may help you do just that. Researchers at John Hopkins University found caffeine enhances the brain's ability to create long term memories. The effects last for up to 24 hours, so consuming one strong cup of coffee can really help create a deeper level of memory retention, isn't that a good news?

Help fortifies your DNA
coffee is a very good antioxidant and it can help combat those free radicals in your system. According to research from the University of Scranton, coffee is the number source of antioxidants in the US diet - more than fruits and vegetables combined. You can take coffee instead of soda, to help fortify your DNA and fight against free radicals that can cause cancer, Alzheimer's and heart disease.

Help improve your mood
I'm talking about eliminating the sad long face, and replacing it with something more cheerful like a smile...Lols. According to research done at Harvard's School of Public Health, coffee has a mood boosting effect. The 2013 study found that drinking caffeinated coffee acted as an antidepressant and significantly reduced the risk of suicidal tendencies.

Makes you better in bed
well some guys might want to smile now *wink* caffeine spikes your adrenaline levels, and isn't just that of the physical parameters. Research from McKendree University found a positive correlation between adrenaline levels and attraction - increased the chemistry on the bed. But you have to keep the coffee intake to one cup  per day to maximize this benefit. Too much of it might just work in the opposite direction - increase anxiety and pocketing your libido.

Credit: Macaela Mackenzie from Men'sfitness
Photo  credit: www.dreamstime.com