It’s no secret that health problems have been on the rise these past few years. The obesity epidemic has swept the world and our bodies are exposed to more and more toxins from various sources. These issues aren’t easy to solve, but they can be mitigated with proper diets and cleansing. Surprisingly, coffee has taken the spotlight as a miracle food that provides more than a few benefits for our bodies. Here are just a few of the ways coffee helps detox and shed weight.
Coffee contains antioxidants
The body is constantly repairing itself from damage caused by toxins and natural byproducts of our metabolism. Some of the most dangerous byproducts include tiny particles called “free radicals” which damage our DNA and are considered a key factor in the formation of malignant cancers. Our bodies use antioxidants to neutralize these free radicals and keep things in check within cells. These antioxidants convert free radicals into harmless substances that can be transported by blood and eliminated through various channels. This is why antioxidants have become a very important factor to consider in modern diets.
One of the reasons why coffee is considered a superfood and supplement is precisely because it contains lots of antioxidants. Quinines, caffeine, cafestol, and melanoidins are just a few of the many different kinds of protective antioxidants that coffee contains. It can be argued that coffee is one of the most abundant sources of antioxidants, making it a very attractive health supplement.
It’s worth taking into consideration that not every kind of coffee contains the same antioxidants. The various methods of processing and preparing coffee can remove or concentrate certain substances, which include aromatic substances and antioxidants. How you drink your coffee affects which of these substances you’ll get in desirable concentrations, which is why it’s crucial you choose the right method.
It can improve liver function
Being the primary detoxifying organ in our body, the liver has quite the task ahead of it. Between clearing us of all toxins and unwanted substances, processing medication, and producing bile, there’s not much that the liver can’t do. Some of these functions have a bit of overlap, as is the case with detoxication and bile production. A lot of substances are removed through our bile, as it’s a convenient way to remove toxins through the digestive system.
Because of this, liver and digestive system health are crucial for the elimination of toxins. The great thing about coffee is that it benefits both organ systems and helps them in this endeavour. It’s a pretty well-known fact that coffee speeds up digestive functions, which helps move things along. This makes bile detoxication slightly more effective and lessens the chance of inflammation. However, coffee also directly impacts the liver in a positive way.
Various studies have shown that coffee consumption protects the liver from damage and inflammation. The exact mechanism of this phenomenon isn’t clear, but the effects are readily noticeable. Among the middle-aged and elderly, regular coffee consumption has been shown to halve the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and similar ailments. Enzymes that show liver damage are less present in those who regularly drink coffee, which is another good sign for early prevention of scarring tissue on the liver.
It’s possible that the antioxidants that coffee contains could curb the natural decaying process of the liver, or they could be supplementing its own antioxidants that are produced by the body. Either way, improving the health of the liver helps clear the body of toxins, which makes coffee a very attractive health supplement for this purpose.
Coffee diets are effective
In the past few years, coffee diets have become pretty popular methods for weight loss. This isn’t your typical, run-of-the-mill diet. You aren’t supposed to replace anything with coffee or use it as a primary dietary supplement. Instead, you use coffee to help improve your metabolism and increase your calorie expenditures.
A key tenet of this diet is to drink three cups of coffee per day. This might seem like a simple enough diet, but not every kind of coffee is as effective. You need to choose the right type and brew for the healthiest results.
Health experts recommend drinking black coffee in this kind of diet. High-quality beans and a light roast are ideal choices. This kind of coffee can help raise energy levels and help speed up an individual’s metabolism. Of course, this regimen only mentions coffee, but those following it still have to stick to a healthy and balanced diet. While considered effective, it’s possible to overdo the amount of coffee consumed during this diet. This can lead to symptoms such as heart palpitations, insomnia, and headaches. These are standard signs of overdosing coffee and they aren’t exactly pleasant, which is why sticking to three cups per day would be ideal.
Decaf coffee helps keep the weight off
The effects of caffeine don’t sit well with absolutely everyone. Some people might have to avoid coffee due to stomach issues, sleeplessness, or medication. However, this doesn’t stop them from enjoying certain benefits that come with drinking coffee, as long as it’s decaf.
While it may seem like there’s no point in drinking decaf coffee, it still contains certain substances that are healthy for our bodies. Caffeine might be the main ingredient, but it’s not everything there is in this drink. Decaffeinated coffee and green tea are chock-full of antioxidants, which have anti-aging properties and help rejuvenate skin and hair. Antioxidants have become a hot topic in health circles, as they’re thought to inhibit some of the damaging properties of toxins and natural byproducts in our bodies.
At the same time, decaf coffee can have the same appetite suppressing effect that regular coffee does. This helps mitigate snack cravings and keeps weight somewhat balanced. It’s unclear how much of an effect decaf can have on energy levels, as it only contains a minute amount of caffeine. But, the other effects suggest that it could indirectly keep you energized and wakeful, despite lacking caffeine.
Coffee supplements do wonders for weight-loss
There are lots of folks out there that don’t really like the taste of coffee. Whether it’s decaf or regular, there’s not much you can do to convince them to consume it, as they don’t find the taste appealing. In this kind of situation, you don’t really have to drink coffee to get your healthy dose of caffeine and antioxidants. There are coffee supplements out there that pack the same kind of punch, without the strong and bitter taste that comes with a brew.
Green coffee bean extracts are just one kind of supplement that has become increasingly popular. They are considered an ideal, natural weight loss aide that can curb calorie consumption, while also containing lots and lots of antioxidants. The great thing about unroasted coffee beans is that they have a higher concentration of chlorogenic acids, which carry most of the antioxidant effects of regular coffee. Supplements made from these extracts provide all the effects and benefits of drinking coffee, including the caffeine. This makes it easy to consume a bit too much, which can lead to the aforementioned problems with increased caffeine intake. It’s why they have to be taken with care, and according to a reasonable schedule.
Weight sheds easily with coffee
The weight-loss qualities of coffee are obvious, but determining why it has these effects isn’t simple. There are lots of factors to consider. For one, coffee causes a noticeable decrease in appetite after consumption. At the same time, coffee also makes you energetic, which motivates you to increase physical activity. It’s also very convenient to consume and has no significant side effects, keeping it very accessible in every kind of environment. Whether you drink your three cups a day at home or have a few cups at work, the benefits remain effective.
The stimulating mental effects of coffee are possibly the most attractive aspect of the drink. People drink coffee to improve their focus and productivity. This is not a minor effect in terms of weight regulation. Our brains use a quarter of the energy in our blood whenever we’re at rest, and mental stimulation improves these numbers. Drinking coffee stimulates your body and mind, causing even more energy to be used than usual.
The practical effects of coffee are utilized in workspaces and home environments. Think of all the times you’ve seen a line of people waiting at the office Bluepod machine. Most people will drink coffee in a working environment to get the mental boost they need to complete their tasks. Even while working, the weight loss benefits of coffee are in effect, despite not being very noticeable in the short term. There are few substances that are as versatile or convenient in this field as coffee.
Exercise is a breeze with coffee
There are two elements that affect the weight of the body. You have a certain caloric intake and caloric expenditure. Regulating what you eat and how much of it you eat is crucial for caloric intake, while physical and mental activity determine expenditures. The great thing about coffee is that it directly affects both of these elements.
Exercise is one of the more effective ways to shed weight. However, keeping up a regular exercise regimen isn’t an easy task. Many find that they lack the motivation and energy to stick to a schedule, especially if they have a lot of responsibilities during their day. Coffee helps kickstart this motivation and increase energy levels.
At one point, coffee was even classified as a performance-enhancing drug by the World Anti-Doping Agency. While Olympic athletes can drink a bit of coffee nowadays, it still stands as a testament to the positive physical effects of coffee. Drinking a cup or two will put you in a better mood for working out and make your workouts more effective. It’s a surefire way to motivate yourself to shed weight with physical activity, while also getting all the other benefits on the side.
Conclusion
It’s hard to argue against the benefits of coffee when there are so many of them. Whether it’s weight-loss or detoxification, coffee has it covered from different angles. While coffee may just be a start-of-the-day drink for many, it’s become a miracle supplement for those looking to improve their health. If you enjoy coffee, you can rest easy knowing that it’s doing wonders for your health.
