Coffee and weight loss seem to be two words that don’t fit together well. After all, coffee often has more calories than your favorite frappuccino at the local coffee shop, and let’s not forget about the cream and sugar! However, coffee also offers some surprising health benefits that can help you to achieve your weight loss goals faster and easier. Read on to find out how your morning cup of Joe can actually help you shed those extra pounds with these 10 ways how coffee can help with weight loss.
1) De-Stress
Coffee does more than just wake you up in the morning. It can also help reduce your stress levels and improve your mood by giving you a natural lift. Coffee stimulates a release of dopamine, which is an important neurotransmitter involved in mood. This can relieve mild to moderate depression, anxiety and make us feel happier overall.
2) Improves Metabolism
Drinking coffee can actually improve your metabolism and help you lose weight. According to a new study, those who drink two cups of coffee a day are 45% less likely to be obese. Drinking just one cup can also boost your calorie-burning metabolism by 11%. Coffee also helps promote weight loss because it inhibits the release of insulin and slows the emptying rate of food from the stomach, which causes a faster metabolism.
3) Boost Energy
The caffeine in coffee can boost your energy levels and stimulate you. When people are more awake and alert, they tend to exercise more and burn more calories. According to some sources, an average cup of coffee contains around 100mg of caffeine, which is equal to the amount found in a 12oz Red Bull or 16oz Monster Energy Drink.
4) Supports Muscle Development
Coffee stimulates the body’s thermogenic response, meaning it can help you lose weight. It also contains chlorogenic acid which is a type of antioxidant and powerful energy source that helps your cells regenerate while protecting your muscles and aiding them in muscle development.
5) Decreases Hunger
One of the most surprising ways coffee can help with weight loss is by keeping you feeling full. Caffeine suppresses appetite, and it also has an inhibitory effect on digestive enzymes, which can result in improved gut health and reduced bloating. Plus, if you drink your coffee at home or make your own brew, there’s little chance of having a calorie-laden breakfast. Finally, one Harvard study found that those who added caffeinated beverages to their diet shed more pounds than those who didn’t.
6) Keeps Bones Strong
Coffee contains important minerals that play a role in strengthening your bones, such as potassium and magnesium. Studies have shown that women who drink at least one cup of coffee per day are up to 15% less likely to suffer from osteoporosis, and men who drink the same amount of coffee on a daily basis show an 8% decrease in the risk of experiencing fractures.
7) Caffeine Curbs Sugar Cravings
Caffeine has been proven to not only increase your metabolism, but it can also help curb sugar cravings by regulating the hormone insulin. Studies have shown that those who drink coffee have a lower risk of diabetes, heart disease and liver disease. Drinking this beverage is also associated with better memory and concentration.
8) Lowers Blood Pressure
Studies have shown that people who drank coffee were able to decrease their blood pressure by 4 points. Coffee contains a substance called chlorogenic acid, which helps with lowering blood pressure levels. The average cup of coffee has about 100 mg of chlorogenic acid and can lower your risk for coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke.
9) Helps Prevent Depression
Coffee’s high levels of cafestol and kahweol may help fight depression, lowering the risk of developing a depressive disorder by up to 20%. Studies have also shown that people who drink 4-5 cups of coffee per day are about 50% less likely to develop depression. This is especially good news for women: according to one study, women who drank 2-3 cups of coffee per day were 50% less likely to develop depression than those who didn’t.
10) Builds Tolerance to Alcohol
Building up your tolerance to alcohol can make drinking less enjoyable, which means that you’ll drink less often. This is because the more of a substance you are exposed to, the more your body becomes used to it and needs it to feel normal.