Is Coffee Healthy?

Growing up i hated the idea of coffee. I didn't understand why it was needed and feared it because of the age old myth that "It stunts your growth!" but as I grew up and life got a little more demanding, the need for coffee in my life increased. 

I'm not too sure how or when i started drinking coffee but i don't think i'll ever be able to quit it completely. I often worried whether coffee actually fit into my healthy lifestyle but after some research, i've decided there is no harm in drinking coffee! 

(Disclaimer- I am not saying you have to drink coffee! this is just for my fellow coffee lovers who may be having doubts) 

Moderation is Key
Just like with any other food or drink, you must have coffee in moderation. It is recommended to have no more than 3 cups a day. 

How to Prepare 
Coffee is all natural which is great for clean eating! but you must be careful with the additional ingredients you put in. I personally prepare my coffee with a dash of skimmed milk or soy milk and Sweetener or Stevia. Try to avoid creamers and heaps of sugar!

The Health Benefits 

1. Coffee can help burn fat-
   Ever wondered why commercial fat burning supplements contain caffeine? well, due to caffeine's stimulant effect on the central nervous system, it raises your metabolism and increases the oxidation of fatty acids.
   
2. Coffee can enhance your workout performance-
   Again, caffeine is the one to thank here. Caffeine is a performance and endurance enhancer, it fights fatigue and also strengthens muscle contraction. And, probably the best of all, it reduces your perception of pain! so you wont feel that burn as harshly as usual in your workout.
   
3. Coffee can lessen your risk of Type 2 diabetes-
   Type 2 diabetes was always one of my biggest fears. I knew being obese at 14 only meant i was on the fast track to getting many diseases and illnesses. Of course, the best way to reduce your risk is to live a healthy lifestyle! but its nice to know coffee helps by helping the body use insulin and protection insulin-producing cells, enabling regulation of blood sugar. 

So those are the 3 main health benefits i found most interesting but there are many more, they contain many antioxidants, reduce the risk of some cancers and contrary to prior beliefs they don't actually dehydrate! 

The Cons

As biased as i am towards coffee, its only right that i also list the possible negative effects of coffee consumption. 

• Irritability 
• Nervousness 
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Raised blood pressure 

I must point out that these side effects only occur when coffee is consumed too much, so as i said earlier- Moderation is key! 

I hope this has helped any fellow coffee lovers and squashed any fears of our beloved beverage. 

Stay healthy

x