Coffee is the second most-consumed drink around the world, with water being the first. Travel to any place around the world, and it’s inevitable to see someone drinking coffee, whether it’s an espresso, cappuccino, latte, or in other forms.
Statistics show that the daily consumption of coffee by Americans is more than 400 million cups. An average American will drink 2 to 3 cups of coffee every day. But why is the consumption so high? That brings us to the topic. Why do people drink coffee?
In this article, we’ll outline the top reasons why people drink coffee. Grab some coffee, and let’s begin.
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Coffee Boosts Your Energy Levels
A lot of people rely on their favorite cup of joe every morning to start their day. But why? In our busy world, people need something to boost their energy levels and keep them going in their day-to-day activities, which include: work, family, fun, and many other things.
Coffee is a solution to boosting your energy levels, and that is why so many people rely on a cup of coffee. Coffee contains caffeine which is a stimulant known for boosting your energy levels.
Caffeine in coffee blocks the adenosine receptors known for influencing sleep and increases the levels of dopamine and other neurotransmitters that regulate your energy levels. This makes you feel more focused, active, and energetic to perform your daily routine. Caffeine in coffee also alleviates your moods.
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Coffee Has Some Health Benefits
Some people drink coffee because of the health benefits linked to it. Studies show that caffeine in coffee has some health benefits such as:
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Coffee is a source of antioxidants.
Studies have linked coffee as a primary source of antioxidants for many. Unprocessed coffee beans are full of antioxidants and more develop during the roasting process of coffee beans.
Antioxidants in coffee are responsible for fighting inflammation which is a cause of many chronic conditions such as arthritis, and atherosclerosis. They also help neutralize free radicals that can lead to chronic disease.
In short, antioxidants in coffee keep our bodies healthy by protecting our body cells from damage at the micro-level. Chlorogenic acid which is a type of antioxidant in coffee also helps prevent cardiovascular disease.
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Coffee lowers type 2 diabetes risk.
Each cup of coffee you consume helps reduce type 2 diabetes by 6%. Those who drink more than four cups of coffee every day reduce type 2 diabetes risk by 50%.
This is because the caffeine in coffee reduces insulin sensitivity and impairs the tolerance of glucose in your body, which helps reduce type 2 diabetes risk. Coffee is also rich in antioxidants that affect inflammation and metabolism- factors involved in the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Caffeic acid, also present in coffee, reduces the accumulation of toxic abnormal protein deposits in people with type 2 diabetes.
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Coffee lowers the risk of cancers.
Coffee helps reduce prostate cancer in men, endometrial cancer in women, and skin cancer. Research shows that regular coffee consumption (4 or more cups of coffee a day) helps reduce prostate cancer risk-prone to men by 20% and endometrial cancer-prone to women by 25%.
This is as a result of the antioxidants in coffee that have anticarcinogenic properties that help reduce inflammation that may be responsible for tumors. Coffee is also linked to reduced risk of rectal cancers, breast, colon, and liver cancers.
When it comes to skin cancer, caffeine in coffee helps prevent the development of a type of cancer known as basal cell carcinoma. Consumption of coffee reduces liver cancer known as cirrhosis by 20%.
Cirrhosis is caused by elevated enzymes levels that cause inflammation of cells which in return damages the liver. When you consume up to four cups of coffee a day, you lower the enzyme levels reducing the liver cancer risk.
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Coffee helps prevent cognitive decline.
Regular coffee consumption (3 to 5 cups of coffee every day) helps prevent cognitive decline linked to Alzheimer’s and types of dementia. Research shows that when you drink coffee regularly you reduce Alzheimer’s disease and dementia disease by 65%.
Caffeine in coffee prevents the growth of beta-amyloid plaque that contributes to the start and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The reduced type 2 diabetes risk also reduces dementia risk. Type 2 diabetes is a contributing factor to dementia disease.
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Coffee lowers the risk of heart disease.
Research shows that if you’re someone who drinks 2 to 4 cups daily you’re likely to lower heart disease risk by 20%. Evidence shows that antioxidants in coffee reduce the inflammation of Bharat arteries that may lead to heart disease.
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Coffee consumption promotes weight management.
Regular consumption of coffee may help you reduce fats in your body which is a benefit if you’re considering weight management. If you drink 2 cups of coffee every day, you are 17% more likely to meet the recommended levels of physical activity, which will help you manage your weight.
In addition to that, one of the things that lead to weight gain is sugar. Coffee contains mineral magnesium and potassium that helps your body use insulin which leads to regulation of blood sugars in your body – reducing sugar cravings.
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Coffee consumption reduces depression.
Drinking a cup of coffee reduces depression risk by 8%. On the other hand, drinking three to four cups of coffee each day reduces depression risk by 50% compared to just one cup of coffee a day.
Caffeine being a natural stimulant stimulates the production of neurotransmitters in your brains such as dopamine, serotonin, and noradrenaline that alleviates your moods, reducing the risk of suicide.
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Coffee May Be Part of Culture
Regular coffee drinking may be a culture to some. You may be familiar with coffee dates. People want to meet, chat, catch up, write, read, work, have fun, or entertain each other in the coffee shops. Coffee shops were traditional meeting points and continue to be venue points. If you’re looking for somewhere to meet up with friends, go to the nearest coffee shop and grab some coffee.
In addition to that, coffee consumption is a tradition in some communities. An example is the Italians’ tradition of espresso coffee consumption after dinner. This is part of the culture of the Italians and skipping the tradition is unthinkable to some Italians.
In a case where children grow up in families that drink coffee, whether daily or occasionally, they also turn out as coffee lovers, and coffee becomes part of their culture. The thought of removing coffee from their lifestyles becomes something foreign to them.
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Coffee Consumption Maybe an Addiction
Some of the people who drink coffee are simply addicted to caffeine in coffee which is a psychoactive substance responsible for altering the functionality of your brain. Heavy coffee drinkers (people who drink more than 4 cups per day) are at risk of coffee addiction.
Caffeine has health benefits. However, excess consumption of it has some challenges. One of them is caffeine addiction. Some signs of someone who is addicted to caffeine or coffee are:
- Headaches if you skip your cup of joe
- Lack of concentration without your cup of joe
- You are very grumpy before you take your coffee
- You need more of the caffeine to get similar effects you had with small amounts of it.
- You suffer from withdrawal symptoms if you cut out coffee from your routine
Some of the withdrawal symptoms you may suffer when you try to cut out coffee from your routine are:
- Anxiety and restlessness
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Tremors
Despite the withdrawal symptoms, there are ways you can cut out coffee from your routine without experiencing the withdrawal symptoms. If you are a coffee addict and you’re looking to cut out coffee from your routine, talk to a doctor for guidance.
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Coffee Tastes Good
This is among the reasons why some people drink coffee. Those regular coffee drinkers don’t force the cup of coffee down their throat – they love the flavors and every taste detail related to the cup of joe.
Different types of coffee taste differently. However, a good cup of coffee is aromatic and flavorsome with balanced sweetness and acidity, and this is a likely reason why many people love and drink coffee.
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Drinking Coffee is a Comforting Routine
Some people are psychologically dependent on coffee, and it is hard for them to remove it from their routine. They rely on coffee every morning to kick start their day. They are happy to meet up with friends in a coffee shop. On cold days a cup of coffee keeps them warm. On hot days a cup of cold brew keeps them cool. They are constantly around the coffee machine when at work making themselves a cup of joe to stay active during the day. In short, coffee is part of their day-to-day life. It’s their comforting routine.
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Coffee Consumption Enhances Physical Activity
By having a cup of coffee an hour before exercising, you will boost your physical performance by 11 to 12%. Caffeine in coffee being a natural stimulant will stimulate the adrenal gland increasing the production of the hormone adrenaline in your body. The hormone adrenaline is responsible for preparing your body and brain for physical exertion.
Caffeine in coffee also fights fatigue, strengthens muscle contraction, and reduces your perception of pain, which helps you endure more exercise.
Conclusion
There are many reasons why millions of people drink coffee in the world. For some, they want to perk their mornings, it is their culture, and for some, they don’t want to be left out while their friends drink coffee.
In this article, we have highlighted some general reasons why people drink coffee. As you can see, the consumption of coffee has a lot of benefits. So, go ahead and keep enjoying that cup of joe.
However, don’t overdo it. Excessive consumption of coffee comes with some challenges. Only drink the recommended amount of coffee which is 400 milligrams. This is equal to four eight-ounce cups of coffee every day.
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