Starting the day with a cup of coffee has become a ritual for many of us. This steaming brew gives us a jumpstart, helping clear the morning fog and prime us for the stressors ahead. But, there could be more to this percolated power-up than just sparking your system. New research has found that drinking coffee might help you lose weight.
As part of a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers examined the relationship between coffee consumption and weight gain. They looked at not only how black coffee could affect overall mass, but also how adding sweeteners and creamers might change the outcome.
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The large study included around 150 000 participants. All those who took part were asked to complete questionnaires regarding their beverage and food consumption during the previous year and the following four.
Researchers gathered data on how much coffee they drank and any extras they splashed into their morning brew. What they found was that an increase in coffee consumption was linked to an overall decrease in weight over around 0.12kg. Conversely, when coffee drinkers increased their daily sugar intake by just one teaspoon in either drink or food form, they gained around 0.09kg.
The lesson? Skip the additions to lose weight.
Drinking Coffee May Also Help Protect You Against Diabetes
Need another reason to hold the sugar with your next coffee order? Turns out sipping on Java might shield you against developing Type 2 diabetes. A 2014 study found that those who upped their coffee intake by at least one cup per day over 4 years had an 11% lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes than those who carried on sipping on the same amount.
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And It Could Benefit Your Heart
Various studies have found that drinking coffee could help improve your cardiovascular health and even, at least in the long term, lower your blood pressure. A 2018 study found that drinking around 5 cups of coffee per day could slash your risk of cardiovascular diseases by up to 15%.
Plus, Drinking Coffee Could Prevent Certain Cancers
One literature review concluded that drinking coffee may help reduce your risk of liver cancer. A previous study found that regular coffee consumption could also help prevent chronic liver disease.
It Might Also Help Improve Your Memory
According to a study published in Natural Neuroscience, sipping on a reasonably strong coffee can help ramp up your memory. Participants were asked to look at a series of images and then served up a cup of the good stuff. Those who had warmed up with a brew were better able to recall details about the pics 24 hours later than those who had skipped the caffeinated beverage.
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Drinking Coffee Can Boost Your Physical Performance
One study found that cyclists who sipped on a cup of coffee before their stints in the saddle were significantly faster than those who skipped their pre-workout brew.
