Coffee is probably one of the most popular beverages in the world today. Coffee drinkers appreciate their daily cup of coffee either due to its stimulating effects or simply for the taste and aroma. Medical experts have previously believed coffee drinking was essentially an unhealthy habit, but today we are seeing a growing body of research proving that coffee is good for you. From curing sexual dysfunction to protecting your heart health, the health benefits of coffee are many.
Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease for which there is, unfortunately, no cure. However, researchers are looking for ways to prevent the disease from happening in high-risk individuals. Results from a 21-year follow-up of the Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Dementia study shows that drinking three to five cups of coffee a day in midlife was associated with a 65% lower risk of dementia and 64% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Alzheimer’s disease is believed to be a result of increased levels of amyloid-β (Aβ) protein in the brain that may result in synaptic loss and neuron cell death. Blood-brain barrier dysfunction is another possible cause of AD. Experimental
studies found that coffee consumption reverses cognitive impairment and decreases Aβ levels in the brain.
Erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction which is defined as an inability to achieve or maintain an erection affects up to
18.4% of men in the United States. The condition is usually treated by looking for underlying causes or with medication such as Sildenafil. However, a recent study published in PLOS One found that men who drank more coffee (up to 303 mg/day) were less likely to report
erectile dysfunction than men with low coffee intake (up to 7 mg/day). What is also interesting to note is that the same observation was found in overweight/obese and hypertensive men suggesting coffee may offset the negative effects these conditions could have on sexual functioning.
Heart health
Previous studies suggested that high coffee consumption could be a risk factor for heart attacks and poor cardiovascular health. This effect was mostly attributed to coffee’s high caffeine content which is a psychoactive substance that causes a rise in heart rate to 100 beats per minute upon ingestion. However, a
meta-analysis published in Current Cardiology Reports found that coffee was not associated with any more cardiovascular events. Furthermore, a
publication in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that coffee consumption was associated with a lowered risk of type II diabetes and hypertension as well as other conditions that might negatively affect heart health such as obesity and depression.
Hormonal balance
Studies are also beginning to look into the effect coffee has on sex hormones. A
study published in Nutrition Journal in 2012 found that coffee seemed to have a favorable but modest effect on sex hormone balance in men and women. The study observed that among men, consumption of coffee increased total testosterone levels and decreased total free estrogen levels. Among women, the researchers found that coffee decreased total testosterone levels thus suggesting that coffee has a favorable effect on the hormonal status in both sexes. So for men looking for a testosterone boost, coffee might be a better alternative to even the top male enhancement pills.
Diabetes
Coffee is believed to have a positive effect on the metabolism that could reduce a person’s risk of type II diabetes. A
study published in Hormone and Metabolic Research examined the effect of coffee drinking on glucose levels and insulin sensitivity. After adjusting for risk factors such as age, weight, smoking, blood pressure, and others, the researchers found that coffee drinking was inversely associated with impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose regulation, and hyperinsulinemia. Furthermore, a systematic review on the effects of coffee drinking on type II diabetes risk found that most studies find coffee was positively associated with an overall reduced risk. Possible explanations for this effect is that coffee suppresses appetite and helps control weight. Furthermore, coffee is believed to lower glucose absorption in the small intestine and to also stimulate pancreatic cells.
Conclusion
Moderate coffee drinking of up to 3 cups of coffee a day probably won’t do any harm, and as a great number of newer studies show, it might actually benefit your health. From protecting your heart to curing sexual dysfunction, coffee can be considered a beneficial drink on many levels. Coffee drinkers were found to have more health advantages than did non-drinkers. But studies also found the mechanisms that underlie some of the many health benefits of coffee. The many phytochemicals and antioxidants in coffee seem to work wonders on our metabolism and even hormonal status. Men looking for ways to boost testosterone levels could try coffee as an alternative to supplements such as
Testofuel.