Is coffee good for you?

We know we love to drink it and we know that it’s one of the most popular drinks in the world – but is coffee actually good for us?

Well, the good news is it appears so, yes! Studies have shown that coffee packs a fair few nutrients and high levels of antioxidants, so let’s have a look at a few of the health benefits.

• As most of us know, coffee can increase energy levels and reduce fatigue. Basically, after we’ve drunk it, caffeine enters the bloodstream and when it gets to the brain it blocks an inhibitory neurotransmitter which means that the stimulating neurotransmitters increase -improving reaction times and energy levels.
• It’s also one of the few natural substances that aid fat burn. In fact, it can boost metabolic rate by 3-11% (so you can have that piece of cake with it now).
• If you’re into sports, caffeine can improve physical performance. It increases adrenaline levels in the blood ready for intense physical exertion and it breaks down body fat for use as fuel.
• It’s a pretty good source of essential nutrients including magnesium, potassium, niacin, pantothenic acid, manganese and riboflavin. Okay, there’s not that much in a single cup, but it soon adds up if you have several cups per day. In fact, some studies have shown that many people get more antioxidants from coffee than from fruit and veg combined.
• Coffee may even protect the liver from various common conditions, enabling it to carry out the important functions of filtering, detoxifying and metabolising.
• And it can even help improve your mood. When we drink coffee, it stimulates the release of neurotransmitters called serotonin and dopamine – which are both associated with mood-enhancing effects.

Case closed. Let’s get the coffee on!