There are always two types of people, the ones who love coffee and the ones who don't. But for the coffee fans, we've got some good news! There are many coffee benefits that you might not be aware of. While you might think that coffee's main job is to wake you up, that's not all that it does. There are several benefits of drinking coffee which range from being good for your skin to working well for your brain. Not just that, we're also going to tell you about the different types of coffees and their nutritional value along with some side effects that you must look out for. But for now, let's begin with some coffee health benefits.
Benefits of Coffee:
Drinking coffee is healthier than you think. We've listed some great coffee benefits for you here
1. Coffee for Skin:
One of the coffee benefits for skin is that it can help reduce dark circles. Yes, you read that right! Coffee works wonderfully to wake up your tired eyes by compressing blood vessels, this can reduce the appearance of dark circles. This is the reason why coffee is being used in eye creams as an ingredient for quite some time now. Not just that, coffee can also decrease puffiness and redness on your face for a temporary duration. It has anti-inflammatory and soothing properties that can help puffiness go away for a little while (1).
2. Coffee for Sore Throat:
When you have a sore throat, it can get painful and itchy. Coffee for sore throat can definitely help soothe down that itchiness and give some warmth to your throat. Coffee can help relieve pain caused by a sore throat by making you salivate and keeping your throat moist. In fact, coffee can make you feel better even when you have a runny nose, cough, sneezing, chilliness and tiredness.
3. Coffee for Hair:
Coffee for hair works wonders as it can help your hair retain moisture and create a natural sheen. So if your hair seems dull, dry and brittle, you can apply a hair moisturiser with coffee as an ingredient to revive your hair's appearance. You can also rinse your hair with coffee to improve dullness as it contains flavonoids that promote hair regeneration. The caffeine in coffee can also aid in stimulating hair growth and prevent hair loss (2).
4. Coffee for Weight Loss:
Did you know that you can sip coffee for weight loss? Yes, that's true. The caffeine content in coffee can increase the rest metabolic rate, ultimately resulting in fat loss. One of the benefits of drinking coffee is that it can cut down your appetite and reduce calorie intake (3). The effect might be temporary but at least it helps you cut down on binging on junk food. And if you're regularly working out to manage weight, drinking coffee an hour before a workout will help you perform better as caffeine induces dopamine secretion and makes you burn more calories.
5. Coffee for Brain:
Coffee for brain can also be beneficial as the caffeine in this beverage has the ability to increase alertness and even help you concentrate better. It's because of the presence of caffeine that blocks adenosine - an inhibitory neurotransmitter in your brain that makes you feel sleepy.
6. Coffee for Diabetes:
Coffee can benefit you by keeping diabetes at bay as it helps the body use insulin and protect insulin-producing cells. It enables effective regulation of blood sugar. Coffee for diabetes can prevent tissue damage as well as battle inflammation, both of which are known risk factors for type 2 diabetes (4). A coffee component called caffeic acid, in particular, is quite remarkable in reducing the toxic accumulation of abnormal protein deposits that are found in type 2 diabetes patients.
Types of Coffee Beans Available in India:
Now that you know about the coffee health benefits, let us tell you about the different types of coffee beans available in India.
1. Arabica:
Arabica coffee beans are oval-shaped and quite aromatic. While it tastes bitter and sweet, its caffeine level is relatively low.
2. Robusta:
These beans have a grainy and bitter flavour with a peanutty undertone. As compared to Arabica beans, Robusta has a more vital caffeine level.
3. Liberica:
Liberica coffee beans have a nutty and smoky flavour with a dark chocolaty note. It's one of the highest-costing beans in the world as it has rare cultivation. This is also one of the rarest coffee types available in India in comparison to Arabica and Robusta coffee beans
Nutritional Value of Coffee:
The nutritional value of coffee as expected from 1 cup i.e. 8 fluid ounces is -
Calories: 2
Calcium: 4.7 milligrams
Magnesium: 7.1 milligrams
Folate: 4.7 micrograms
Protein: 0.3 grams
Riboflavin: 0.2 milligram
Niacin: 0.5 milligram
Fat: 0 grams
Carbohydrates: 0 grams
Coffee vs Green Coffee:
The main difference between black coffee and green coffee is that the former is made out of beans that go through a roasting process. Green coffee is the raw version of black coffee but green coffee proves more beneficial for physical and mental health. Green coffee has a much lighter and milder taste while black coffee has a smokier taste. You can try the Saffola Fittify Green Coffee - Classic. It's an instant beverage mix that is made from pure green coffee extract loaded with antioxidants made from unroasted coffee beans. There are 3 other variants - Classic Strong, Lemon Mint and Lemongrass Lavender.
Preparation of Coffee:
To make a cup of regular hot coffee:
Step 1: Warm up a mug of water or milk for a minute or two
Step 2: Add 1-2 teaspoons of coffee powder to the mug (you can add more or less according to the taste you like)
Step 3: Stir the coffee until it dissolves in water or milk
Step 4: Add sugar or cream if you want a richer and sweeter taste to your coffee
Side Effects of Coffee:
There can be a few coffee side effects if you indulge in overconsumption of the same or if you are going through some medical conditions. Here are some side effects of coffee that you should be aware of (5) -
- Drinking more than 6 cups of coffee per day can cause symptoms like anxiety or agitation.
- For some people, coffee can cause insomnia, restlessness or nervousness.
- Drinking unfiltered coffee may increase total cholesterol for some people.
Conclusion:
Now that you know of the coffee benefits for your health, you won't think twice before sipping on a hot cup of coffee. There are various coffee types that you can choose from according to your liking. Just make sure to not sip on more than 4-6 cups of coffee a day as it can result in the side effects that we've mentioned for you above. If you are a coffee person or wish to become one, you can try switching to green coffee as it has several health benefits and serves better as an everyday beverage.
FAQs:
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Is it okay to drink coffee every day?
For most people, a moderate amount of coffee between 2-4 cups a day is better for consumption than anything above that. Coffee may help lower the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and depression. So feel free to make yourself a cup of coffee a day.
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Can kids drink coffee?
Caffeine is not safe for kids under 12 years of age. Teens shouldn't consume more than 100 milligrams of caffeine in a day, which is approximately one cup of coffee.
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Does coffee dehydrate you?
Coffee or other caffeinated drinks may have a milk-diuretic effect, which means that it can cause the need to urinate. But it doesn't increase the risk of dehydration, so don't stress much over sipping a cup of coffee.
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Which coffee is healthiest?
It's a healthier option to drink hot-brewed and black coffee as it has no calories or carbs, no fat and is also low in sodium. In fact, black coffee even has micronutrients like niacin, magnesium and potassium.
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Which coffee is best for the morning?
Here are different types of coffees that are great for mornings:
- Espresso
- Cappuccino
- Turkish coffee
- Caffe Americano
- Cafe latte
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Can you drink coffee when pregnant?
Caffeine of more than 150-200 milligrams, which makes about 1-2 cups of coffee daily, is not recommended during pregnancy. Anything more than that can cause issues with the baby's growth and development.
