HEALTH

I don't know about you, but *nothing* brings me as much joy as my morning cup of coffee. From the warm mug in my hands to the flavors dancing in my mouth, coffee is hands-down the best drink on the market. Obviously, coffee is a great tool to help sleepy students wake up in the mornings, bud did you know that coffee has a lot of underrated health benefits too? From preventing cancers to increasing alertness, coffee might just be the super-beverage we didn't know we needed.

So next time someone nags you about your coffee intake, you can let them know that you're actually doing your body a favor...(and no, we're not talking about frappucinos here.)

Coffee drinkers, it's time to flex...

You're less likely to get cancer & diabetes

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, people who drink coffee are less likely to get certain types of illnesses, like colon cancer or diabetes. Researchers found that women who drink coffee are 26% less likely to develop colon cancer than women who don't drink coffee—which is good news since one in 23 women develop colon cancer during their lifetime. Drinking coffee regularly is also supposed to help your body process glucose better, which is helpful for preventing type 2 diabetes.

You might live longer

How much longer? Who knows, but a recent Harvard University study shows that people who drink coffee are 25% less likely to die prematurely from heart disease, kidney disease or a stroke. Some researchers believe that daily coffee intake can also help ward off heart failure, too.

You focus better

Everyone knows that coffee wakes you up, but did you know that it has also been linked with increased mental alertness? People have been proven to be more alert and focused when they drink coffee versus when they do not, but everything is best in moderation, so *please* don't try to drink 6 cups of coffee to focus on your next chemistry exam.

Your brain is more protected

Coffee has been proven to reduce people's risk of dementia and alzheimers. While you have to drink a lot of caffeine to reap this benefit, having caffeine in your bloodstream to maintain your memory seems like a good trade-off to me. Here's to keeping your memory!

You're happier

Perhaps the biggest flex of all, coffee drinkers are statistaically happier than non-coffee drinkers. Caffeine increases production of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin which brighten your mood. A recent study also found that drinking two of more cups of coffee a day prevents risk of suicide by up to 50%. 

What is your fave kind of coffee? Let us know by tagging us on social media @girlslifemag.

by Claire Hutto | 4/28/2021