Most people see coffee as an energy boost that helps them start the day in a better mood. This grain has been characterized for many years for its multiple health benefits, one of the most important is the reduction of heartburn.
In accordance with The confidential, the main compound in coffee is caffeine, that is, a psychoactive drug with important effects on the nervous system. However, despite the impact that this compound can generate in the body, a latest study published in July 2017 found that drinking three cups of coffee a day reduces the risk of death.
That said, coffee also helps the body stay alert and awake because caffeine works in the brain by blocking adenosine, a neurotransmitter that increases other substances such as dopamine or norepinephrine that speed up brain activity.
Similarly, Many athletes prefer to drink coffee before a competition because caffeine increases adrenaline levels, a hormone that prepares the body for high-performance physical exertion. In turn, people who drink coffee have a 23-50% lower risk of developing diabetes.
“The presence of caffeine and antioxidants can improve cognition, sensitivity, as well as the digestive process”, Alicia Aguilar, professor of medical sciences and director of the UOC’s Master’s in Nutrition and Health, explained to the newspaper El País.
In turn, coffee helps prevent mental disorders. According to a Harvard University study published by El Confidencial, the risk of depression in women decreases with increased coffee consumption. The study found that women who drank four or more cups of coffee a day were 20% less likely to develop depression.
Now drinking only coffee brings many health benefits; however, many people make the mistake of combining it with other foods, such as milk or sugar, which can alter the effects of caffeine. The newspaper El País published three products that should not be mixed with coffee:
- Sugar: this ingredient can be added to the drink, but very sparingly; It is best to savor it without sugar so that the effects of caffeine have a greater impact on the body. Aguilar maintains that “By adding simple sugars exclusively, the benefits mentioned and associated with coffee will be subject to the amount of sugar we consume the rest of the day.”
- Whole milk: In this case, if you are in the habit of adding whole milk to coffee, it is advisable not to do so and replace it with milk in skimmed and semi-fat versions because they have fewer calories and are suitable for people with obesity and cardiovascular pathologies, according to various experts.