Are you a coffee or tea drinker? Hot or iced?
I’m with Lorelai Gilmore…Coffee, coffee, coffee. Usually, I drink mine hot but in the summer months I love a good cold brew!
Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, but did you also know that it can help you be more productive, more athletic, less stressed and generally healthier?
More Productive
Coffee, or more specifically the caffeine found in coffee, helps maintain alertness which improves your performance and can enhance your mood. Caffeine also ramps up your brain’s energy levels which helps enhance your memory, your ability to focus, and your problem-solving skills. I know that having a cup of coffee in the morning, besides just making me a better Jennifer, does help my noodle wake up and feel more alert and ready to tackle all the things I have to do in a day.
Better Athlete
Studies of all types of athletes – from runners to weightlifters – find that caffeine intake improves the amount of work you can perform during a given bout of exercise. These studies have shown that caffeine can extend the time it takes to reach physical exhaustion and decrease the sense of effort during any sort of activity, even prolonged breathing. Coffee is absorbed quickly with peak blood levels occurring 45 minutes to an hour after consumption so drink up and power through!
Less Stressed
Did you know that even smelling a cup of coffee can reduce your stress? A study done at Seoul National University, studying the brain of rats, discovered that those who were exposed to the aroma of coffee saw changes in brain proteins that are tied to stress. So, take a few seconds each morning to really breathe in that wonderful smell of coffee brewing and feel the stress just melt away.
Generally Healthier
Research suggests that a cup of coffee can help alleviate symptoms from migraines and could even stop the painful headache altogether if consumed early enough. This is because caffeine constricts blood vessels and helps counter the painful effects of blood vessel dilation in your head. This is why many popular over the counter migraine meds have caffeine as an ingredient.
The oils in coffee, called kahweol and cafestol, are potent anti-inflammatory agents that can actually protect the brain against oxidative stress and DNA damage. An inflamed brain is a poorly functioning brain. Regular consumption of coffee can keep our brains safe and healthy in the long run.
In moderation, 1-2 cups of coffee a day, coffee can be amazing for your productivity, your physical activity, your stress levels, and even your overall health! So enjoy that cup of coffee and crush your day. Coffee = Life
So, tell me in the comments below – do you drink coffee or other caffeine-fueled beverages like black tea? What do you think it does for you overall?
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