Friday, February 14, 2014

Percolating Your Workout

For those who love to work out early in the morning a cup of fresh brewed Java is the only way to kick start an awesome exercise session. With the comfort of an old pair of  jeans, a cup of coffee wakes you up, warms you up, stimulates your senses and gets all of your systems moving, literally, not to mention it just smells so good.


While once thought taboo and dangerous to your health to have more than one cup of Joe, there is good reason to enjoy that second and third cup of the morning elixir.  According to Liz Applegate, PH.D, new research shows that drinking coffee has more health benefits than harmful effects.
Not shocking by any means, especially to spouses and children, coffee can enhance your mood, relieve the everyday stresses of life and can reduce the risk of diseases. In addition to the caffeine, coffee also contains rich antioxidants which are also available in decaf.
Here are some health and performance benefits coffee provides athletes and exercisers.
Studies conducted on cyclists and triathletes in the U.K. showed that those given 350 mg of caffeine performed better than those given a placebo.
Arabica beans are rich in antioxidants compounds.  One study showed that consuming three cups of Arabica coffee daily for four weeks can lower markers of oxidative DNA damage that can promote heart disease among other health issues.
A recent study cited by the National Health Institute shows that adults that drink four cups or more of coffee on a daily basis are 10 percent less likely to be depressed than non-coffee drinkers!  In addition to limiting depression, getting your day started with the smell, taste and boost of coffee just makes for a nicer person!
A health heart is important for any individual. Adding three to four cups of coffee to your diet daily, coupled with exercise, is associated with a significant reduction in heart-disease risk according to a study review published by the journal Circulation.
According to the European Journal of Nutrition for every two cups of regular or decaf coffee you drink per day, you risk for type diabetes decreases by 10-12 percent. The greatest risk reduction is in runners with a healthy Body Mass Index.
While coffee won’t turn you into Einstein, research shows that antioxidants in coffee may help protect the brain from cognitive loss and may delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
Finally, research has shown that drinking two cups of coffee per day has a protecting effect on the liver, especially in those who are at risk for liver disease or have poor liver health.
While coffee has many health benefits, be careful not to overdo too much of a good thing as excess coffee can give you out the jitters, disrupt sleep and rob bones of valuable calcium.