Everyone has different routines to cope and function every morning. Still, we can all agree that drinking coffee makes everything better.
Whatever you have going on for the day—huge exam, an important meeting, or garden pruning and weeding—is much more bearable with your favorite brew in your system.
Coffee is one of the world’s most-loved beverages, to say the least. It is perfect for any season, occasion, and time of the day.
Many people consider drinking coffee as part of their everyday norm, especially older adults in their golden years.
However, there are many controversies regarding its health benefits, making everyone ask the same important question, “Is coffee healthy?”.
Despite many intriguing studies, coffee actually has plenty of benefits to offer to seniors.
But like many things, it only serves its positive purpose as long as you have it in moderation.
Here are the top four reasons why drinking coffee is suitable and useful for your aging body.
1. A Potent Source of Antioxidants
Antioxidants have been the hype of many health studies the past year—but for good reasons!
The buzz proves to be beyond justified because antioxidants really do have an overabundance of benefits to the body. Here are a few of its functions.
- Gets rid of free radicals that damage the cells.
- Prevents oxidation in the cells
- Protects the tissues from premature aging
- Protects the body from unwanted inflammation
- Reduces risk to many diseases like cancer, heart disease, and macular degeneration.
The good news is that unprocessed coffee beans pack thousands of antioxidants and produce even more during its roasting process.
It is also found to be a more potent source of antioxidants than green tea and cocoa. In fact, coffee made it to the top antioxidant-containing superfoods for seniors (11th), next to some berries and vegetables.
If you are a senior who follows a Western type of diet, then coffee would be one of the most significant antioxidant sources in your diet.
2. Boosts and Protects the Brain
Coffee contains a powerful stimulant known as caffeine. This compound is the main reason you feel so energized and ready to take on the world after drinking your morning coffee.
Moreover, caffeine stimulates the release of certain hormones in your body to reduce feelings of tiredness and replace it with vigor. Other effects of caffeine in the body include:
- Increase energy levels
- Mood booster
- Induce feelings of excitement and happiness
- Enhances memory and brain activity
- Helps enhance reaction time
- Short-term memory and concentration boost
Studies also showed that regular coffee consumption reduces age-related cognitive decline in seniors. It protects the brain more effectively than other healthy beverages with caffeine like green tea.
However, it would be best to pace yourself in your daily coffee consumption because these brain benefits tend to be less effective when your body becomes tolerant to caffeine.
3. Reduces Risk of Several Disease
Older adults get more vulnerable to infectious and lifestyle-induced illnesses because of age-related body decline. As you age, your immune system tends to decrease in function (as well as your other bodily systems)
This might be a normal life phenomenon, but you can still do significant steps to ensure your body’s health. One way to do that is to fill your system with healthy foods and beverages like coffee.
A simple 8-ounce cup of coffee already contains a plethora of nutrients, such as:
- Vitamin B1, B2, B5, and B3
- Folate
- Manganese and potassium
- Magnesium and phosphorus
When added up, these nutritional contents will help your body ward off certain diseases like:
- Cancer
- Heart ailment
- Type 2 diabetes
- Liver disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Gout
- Stroke
- Depression
- Stress
Studies have also linked regular coffee consumption to a 7% decreased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Moreover, coffee is an effective fat-burning supplement to help you stay in shape and avoid falling prey to obesity. According to studies, as it breaks down fat substances, your body converts it to energy, improving your physical performance by 11 to 12 percent.
So, the next time someone asks you, “Is coffee healthy?” you can just let them see your healthy physical well-being as living proof of coffee’s benefits.
4. Fights Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
One of the most frightening circumstances that come with old age is the possibility of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
These neurodegenerative diseases leave their victims (and their families) forever scarred due to its physical and behavioral symptoms.
This condition may have no cure, but you can do many things to prevent it from happening. One such practice is to eat healthily and include coffee in your daily regimen.
Coffee can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s or its progression during its early stages. It helps by:
- Blocking unwanted inflammation in the brain. Inflammation can cause a domino effect that leads to the development of dementia.
- Prevents type 2 diabetes that can progress to Alzheimer’s disease.
- Improves brain function
- It blocks the build-up of specific proteins that contributes to the disease.
To top it off, studies have shown that seniors who drink coffee are 65% less likely to have dementia when they reach the age of 70 years old and above.
Conclusion
So, is coffee healthy? The short answer to that is YES! It is one of the most nutritional beverages to include in your everyday meals. It can even surpass the nutritional benefit of some of your trusted fruits and veggies.
The key is to drink it moderately. Like all things, coffee only elicits its adverse effects on the body once abused and consumed irresponsibly.
According to studies, two cups of brewed coffee a day is already enough for most healthy adults.
However, it is safer to consult your doctor regarding your coffee intake because some medical conditions might be exacerbated due to coffee consumption. This includes:
- Heartburn
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Hypertension
- Osteoporosis
- Certain autoimmune diseases
Pair your morning coffee sessions with the right diet and regular exercise. Avoid drinking it so close to bedtime so as not to disrupt your regular sleeping pattern.
