Coffee contains many benefits, many of which are not entirely known. We discover those most unknown and surprising properties.
The coffee is probably one of the most widely consumed beverages each day. In Finland alone, 12 kilograms per person per year are consumed, followed closely by Norway with around 10 kg. Per person and from Sweden with 8.4 kg. Spain is in position 19 of the world ranking with a consumption that oscillates the 4.5 kilograms of coffee per person per year. This means that in our country around 24,140 million coffees are consumed, which would be equivalent to 600 coffees.
On tastes it is probably one of the most varied drinks that exist. There are those who consume coffee alone, who add sugar, milk or condensed milk. There are also those who enjoy it with a delicious milk cream, or those who consume it alone but very, very loaded. There are even those who add honey to coffee. To prepare it, we can choose a wide variety of coffee makers, although it is also possible to make coffee without a coffee maker.
Be that as it may, there is no doubt that it is a stimulating drink, which contains – and provides – a series of interesting benefits for our health, especially when it is consumed regularly and always without excess (unless there is some type of contraindication, at which point its consumption is not at all advisable or recommended).
For example, it is extremely rich in natural antioxidants due to its polyphenol content, which means that it helps our body reduce the effects of free radicals. It also helps prevent neurodegenerative or cardiovascular diseases, precisely because of its antioxidant content. But did you know that it also brings other benefits that are not really so well known?
The benefits of coffee that you might not know
Improves life expectancy
According to the results obtained in a scientific study carried out among more than 400,000 people over a period of 15 years, it seems that drinking coffee every day improves life expectancy, a quality that would be related not to the consumption of caffeine itself but with other components of coffee such as the presence of natural antioxidants, since it is an effect that was also observed in the consumption of decaffeinated coffee.
Thus, for example, it has been known that coffee would extend life expectancy by up to 15% in women and up to 10% in men.
Helps to lose weight
When the consumption of coffee is combined with following a varied and balanced diet, rich in healthy foods and low in fat, and also with the regular practice of physical exercise, it becomes a perfect ally to lose weight.
Why? Mainly because it helps to better eliminate accumulated fat, hence many nutritionists or dietitians advise its consumption on a daily basis, especially when following a weight loss diet.
Of course, in order to enjoy this slimming quality it is very important that it is not sweetened with sugar, so as not to add empty calories.
It is an excellent antidepressant
A study that had the collaboration of more than 50,000 women and that was carried out for 10 years has found something surprising: it acts as a wonderful antidepressant.
And is that according to the results recorded by this study, apparently those who consume coffee every day and regularly have up to 20% less likely to suffer depression. In this case, the difference was observed in comparison with women who consumed decaffeinated coffee, since this quality was only seen in those women who drank normal coffee.
Reduces and relieves pain
A recent report published by the BMC Research Notes edition assures that coffee consumption helps reduce and relieve pain thanks to its analgesic qualities. It appears to help reduce both shoulder and neck pain by up to 14%.
For this reason it is also an ideal drink to relieve and soothe annoying and uncomfortable headaches.
Acts against aging
Precisely because of its high antioxidant content, by protecting our body against the action of free radicals, coffee becomes a good natural anti-aging, by preventing the acceleration of skin aging and therefore the appearance of premature wrinkles.