Coffee can do much more than help you power through an afternoon

It's one of the most popular beverages on the planet and historically gets a bad rap for being unhealthy.

However, modern research has begun to show that not only does coffee taste great, but also possesses health benefits such as lowering the risk of diabetes, burning fat, improving energy levels, and more.

Here are the top ways a cup of joe — or any other coffee-fuelled treat — can actually be of benefit to your health.

Fat burner

A study by the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition found that caffeine increases the maximal fat oxidation rate (MFO) and aerobic capacity, which lead to increased fat burn.

Skip the science and, put simply, this means drinking strong coffee or taking a dose of caffeine around 30 minutes before running or cycling can increase fat oxidation.

Help your health

Data suggests drinking coffee could reduce the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease by up to 30%.

Most studies recommend three cups of coffee as the beneficial dose as it's the coffee components, such as phenylindane and caffeine combined with EHT (a fatty acid molecule derived from serotonin), which have been shown to prevent the formation of a toxic protein associated with the development of the disease.

Consuming coffee habitually also has a robust association with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Studies have shown that an increase of daily coffee consumption by at least one cup was associated with an 11% lower risk of developing it.

Grab and go

Coffee comes in so many formats today it can feel a little confusing.

If you're pressed for time, travelling or on the go 24/7, many brands now make handy, coffee snack drinks you can pick up and stay on track with your busy day.

Antioxidant powerhouse

Without all of the added sugars and creamers, coffee is actually one of the healthiest drinks out there.

In fact, coffee contains more antioxidants than green tea and cocoa, two drinks that are widely known for their antioxidant properties.

Other ingredients found in coffee include magnesium, potassium, riboflavin (vitamin B2) and niacin (vitamin B3) and it's now gaining popularity as a major dietary source of good stuff.

So go ahead, pour yourself another cup!

Mentally helpful

With depression and mental illness awareness on everyone's radar these days, it's also great to note coffee can help lift your spirits.

With more than 1,000 bioactive compounds, one of which is caffeine, coffee can have a positive impact on mental health due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties.

Caffeine itself is a psychostimulant that can increase alertness and motivation, thus potentially helping to alleviate some depressive effects. Caffeine also has the ability to block adenosine receptors in the central nervous system, which prevents them from causing a cellular response that leads to a depressed, fatigued mood.

Don't forget food

It’s the morning must-have in drink form, but what about foods containing the good stuff? There’s so much more to coffee than office fuel.

As we head towards International Coffee Day 2022 on October 1, Choithrams.com is a great place to pick up some coffee-laced treats and snacks too.

Coffee foods that can give your day a boost include cake, ice cream, chocolate, as well as the Goodness Foods coffee drops. Delicious!