Many people in the US run on coffee. Over 60% of American adults drink a cup of joe every day, but that’s nothing compared to Finns, who drink an average of 10 cups a day!

When it comes to coffee’s health benefits, you’re in luck: Multiple studies have shown that drinking a cup (or two) has numerous beneficial effects on the body. Here are just five of them.

1. It’s a great way to start your morning. Almost everyone knows that a cup of coffee in the morning helps to be more awake and alert. But how does coffee make you feel that way? Studies show that caffeine directly stimulates the spinal cord and the brain’s cortex, thereby prompting you to feel alert. Caffeine also helps get things “moving” by stimulating and triggering contractions in the bowel, therefore pushing out toxic body waste from the day before. If you’re feeling a bit constipated, have a cup of coffee. It will help you — and your bottom — relax.
2. It enhances your memory. Studies report that moderate consumption of coffee may reduce cognitive decline in both men and women. By keeping your brain and body active, it becomes easier to absorb information and retain it. Many studies also suggest that coffee consumption over a lifetime is associated to a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease — the most common neurodegenerative disease among older adults.
3. It boosts your workout. Researchers have shown people that having a cup of coffee before working out helps extend the time you spend in the gym. This superfood helps block chemicals that causes muscles to become tired during intense physical activities. The team studied the effects of coffee on people who work out and found that there was a significant reduction in pain during exercise after the consumption of coffee, no matter how much is ingested.
4. It has anti-aging properties. For those looking for the fountain of youth, coffee might be the next best thing. Drinking three cups a day can help extend lifespan, as reported by British researchers. Published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, these researchers found the link between coffee and the significant reduction of human diseases that cut our lives short.
5. It has brain-boosting benefits. Depression, which affects 4.1% of the US population, is a severe mental disorder that robs a person the will to experience the best in life. A Harvard University study in 2011 reported that women who drank four or more cups per day had a 20% lower risk of depression. In another study, this time published in JAMA, experts found that drinking coffee reduce the likelihood of getting Parkinson’s disease by a third.

Coffee is a popular drink the world over and for good reason. No matter how you like your coffee, it’s important that you get your fix. Not only is it good for you, it’s also packed with health benefits that can keep diseases at bay.

Sources:

CoffeForUs.com

DailyMail.co.uk

Healthline.com