by Catherine Short
ARC Fitness Coach
Coffee is one of the most popular drinks on earth, with around 95 million cups consumed every day in the UK alone. It should come as no surprise then that it's also one of the most studied, with 8,420 reports published in the last decade alone.
Coffee is one of the most popular drinks on earth, with around 95 million cups consumed every day in the UK alone. It should come as no surprise then that it's also one of the most studied, with 8,420 reports published in the last decade alone.
Most of these studies look for associations between drinking coffee and specific health outcomes. Some studies are huge, with over a million participants spanning multiple decades. The good news is that the overwhelming majority conclude that coffee is good for your health and associated with a reduced risk of contracting some of the world's worst diseases.
It is antioxidant rich, B3-packed, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, antiviral and antibacterial effects to name a few! It is packed with 1000s of compounds and the lighter roasts are also packed with polyphenols found in our colourful fruits and veggies that can help reduce anxiety.
In a bite size, coffee delivers caffeine to enhance performance and concentration, and supports brain activity. Did you know one cup contains 15g of fibre so it’s great for our gut too.
Four Myth-Busters!
1. Caffeine & Sleep: Ever heard caffeine has an 8-hour half-life? Not so fast! It varies (1.5 to 9.5 hrs) depending on your genes and health. Late coffee? Studies say it might not mess with your sleep, it depends on you.
2. Dark Roast & Caffeine: Think dark roast means more caffeine? Not really. While roasting might slightly amp it up, the difference is tiny – less than 1mg between a House & Dark(ish) roasts! So choose a lighter roast for higher polyphenol content.
3. Coffee Dehydration: Coffee doesn’t dehydrate you; although caffeine alone has dehydrating effects, the liquid intake balances it out. Some studies even suggest that habitual coffee drinkers enjoy hydration levels similar to water!
4. Coffee & Health: Coffee can be a health hazard, especially poor-quality ones. Over-roasted? Then you lose 90% of the good stuff. Mycotoxins (like a coffee fungus - yuk!), over use of pesticides - all are risks so choose a good quality coffee. BUT ENJOY IT!