Coffee Health Benefits, Properties, and Uses

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world. Brewed from ground, roasted coffee beans coffee is a common drink for kick-starting your morning. But, it also has several health benefits that people may not be aware of.

While most people know that coffee comes from coffee beans, they may not be as familiar with the coffee plant. Coffea arabica, also known as Arabian coffee is an evergreen plant from the tropical regions of Africa. Though native to Ethiopia, coffee plants are now commercially cultivated all over the world in coffee plantations typically located in subtropical regions, including throughout South America.¹

Considered a shrub or small tree, coffee plants grow up to 15 feet tall. In addition to their coveted beans, coffee pants are most well-known for their dark green, glossy leaves that have an elliptical shape with distinct veins.¹

Coffee Health Uses and Health Benefits

Because coffee is such a popular consumer product, scientists have spent a lot of time researching its health benefits. Coffee health benefits mostly stem from it being a powerful antioxidant food. Coffee beans are high in antioxidants called polyphenols, which have known disease-fighting properties.^2,3

Helping to lower inflammation, regular coffee consumption can improve heart health and fight against neurodegenerative diseases. It’s also been linked to reducing the risk of digestive diseases and rates of depression.²

As a natural energy-booster, coffee is great for improving physical athleticism, concentration and focus and even metabolic function.²

If you’re interested in using coffee as a natural remedy, then consider how this morning drink can help treat the following conditions:

• Asthma - Substances in coffee can help to lower inflammation in the airways, opening them up to improve breathing and prevent asthma attacks.
• Migraine - Coffee naturally constricts blood vessels in the brain, which when enlarged, lead to migraine headaches. Drinking coffee can help reduce blood flow to the brain during migraine headaches.
• Low Blood Pressure - Coffee has been found to cause a natural spike in blood pressure, which can help correct low blood pressure.

Side Effects and Precautions

Over-consumption of coffee can cause side effects such as increased heart rate and nervous shaking To avoid the hyperactivity that comes with coffee, it’s best to limit your intake to two cups a day for optimal health benefits.

References

1. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=b632 
2. https://draxe.com/coffee-nutrition-facts/
3. https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2016/01/18/black-coffee-green-tea-health-benefits.aspx