The Health Benefits of Drinking Espresso

We are all familiar with the much-needed caffeine boost that a cup of coffee provides, however recent studies on the benefits of drinking just a couple of cups of espresso a day have now highlighted the additional health benefits for coffee lovers. So, go and grab some coffee beans, get your grinder out, switch on your espresso machine and make yourself a cup as we look at the 5 main health benefits of drinking coffee, or even better espressos:

Enhanced long-term memory

Just a couple of cups of espresso contains enough caffeine to stimulate the areas of the brain responsible for memory and concentration. Michael Yassa, a neurologist from the University of California, carried out a study on 160 volunteers and their ability to memorise objects. His research concluded that caffeine actually enhances long-term memory as it improves the consolidation process where memories go from short-term to long-term.  
This impact that coffee has on our brains is likely a by-product of its true ecological role. It has been found that caffeine accessible naturally in plants can actually improve a honeybee’s memory, bees that had been subjected to caffeine were three times more likely to relocate flora.

Helps with weight loss

Apart from the obvious fact that an espresso has a relatively low calorie count (9cal/100g), caffeine boosts metabolism which in turn increases the body’s potential to burn fat. A study carried out by the Department of Human Nutrition in the Netherlands found that after consuming caffeine the subjects metabolic rate increased and remained at an elevated level for three hours which increased calorie consumption. Researchers at King’s College, University of London carried out a test in which caffeine was administered to volunteers at two-hour intervals over a 12-hour day and found that it increased the subjects energy expenditure by a massive 11%.

Reduces the risk of diabetes

Diabetes is a disease that affects how your body processes the sugar in your bloodstream. A study in 2009 on 40,000 participants showed that a consumption of several cups of coffee a day lead to a 40% lower risk of type 2 diabetes developing and in a more recent study in 2014, results showed that those who increased their coffee consumption by just one cup a day decreased their risk of type 2 diabetes over the next 4 years by 11%.

Healthy for the heart

It sounds too good to be true doesn’t it, but in a new analysis of one of the largest and longest-running studies, an extra cup of coffee a day has reduced heart failure, stroke and coronary diseases by 8%, 7% and 5% respectively. This research was presented by the American Heart Association which analysed more than 15,000 people's eating and drinking habits.

Coffee reduces the risk of cancer

No one likes to mention the c word… it turns out that coffee can help decrease the risk of certain forms of cancer. Stephen Gruber, Director of the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Centre was a able to carry out a study that examined 5,100 individuals and concluded that just one or two servings of coffee a day was associated with a 26% reduction in the odds of developing colorectal cancer.

After reading this you can rest assured and enjoy your coffee guilt free knowing that it's benefiting you.

Next Post →