Did you know that coffee is the third most popular drink that people all over the world are addicted to? Only natural liquid is ahead of it in the ranking - water and tea, which small children and patients with various ailments can drink without problems.
Caffeine is still being studied by doctors and scientists, until the end, and without having found out all its positive or negative properties. Of course, the fact that it causes a certain physiological and psychological dependence is confirmed, and it even has a peculiar withdrawal syndrome. And such coffee "addicts" on the planet at the same time live about 1 billion people!
Like many other foods and drinks, coffee has its positive and negative properties, as well as completely unique moments, which we will talk about today. We present 10 short but interesting facts about coffee that you did not even know about.
10. Drinking coffee can help you burn fat.
Few people know that the drink can really be used to dry the body during sports training and diets. Firstly, it has a slight diuretic effect and leads to an outflow of fluid from the body, a decrease in swelling and, as a consequence, weight loss by 1-2 kilos. Secondly, scientists have proved that daily caffeine intake can accelerate metabolism by 3-11%, which is a very good indicator. Thirdly, the organic acids in the drink contribute to the production of hydrochloric acid, which speeds up and simplifies the digestion process.
Of course, in order for coffee to really “work” on burning fat, you will have to give up various additives to it - cream, sugar, etc. Replace them with milk of zero fat content and, of course, a synthetic sweetener.
9. You do not need to drink coffee to wake up in the morning
Beverage manufacturers speculate on this myth, which makes it possible to put people in an artificial psychological dependence. So a ritual is born in people: waking up means drowsy and sleepy, and only a fragrant drink will help restore energy and vitality. In fact, in the morning, our body produces enough stress hormone cortisol, which provides a sense of vitality and clarity of mind. Such a biological process is due to the circadian circadian rhythm.
Therefore, the optimal time for drinking a coffee drink is the period after 9-11 o’clock in the morning, when the hormone level begins to fall and natural lethargy can occur.
8. Caffeine begins to act very quickly
The drink is one of the champions in its speed. Its effectiveness can be compared with modern drugs and injections. For example, caffeine begins to affect the central nervous system 10 minutes after a sip. It immediately releases fatty acids and increases adrenaline secretion, providing energy and productivity.
The maximum concentration of the substance is achieved on average 45 minutes after the end of drinking a coffee drink. And the effect of caffeine persists for another 3-5 hours, so 2 mugs per day is quite enough to maintain a natural tone during working hours.
7. Caffeine is actually a crystal
Everyone calls instant coffee granular. However, if you take an excursion into the chemistry of the substance, then we will be very surprised, since caffeine is represented by the smallest crystals, the size of which varies around 0.0016 inches. These babies have a whitish tint or are completely colorless, and the taste is quite bitter.
Despite their tiny size, caffeine crystals are excellent psychostimulants and even in small doses affect the brain, peripheral and central nervous systems.
6. Coffee does not contribute to dehydration
Despite the fact that coffee helps to eliminate fluid from the body and produces a light diuretic effect, it does not lead to total dehydration of the body and the "drying out" of the cells. The acceptable volume for health is up to 600 ml per day (about 2 cups of a weak drink), which will not lead to negative consequences.
Diuresis does not significantly change precisely from the fact of the presence of caffeine in the drink. Melons (watermelon, melon) have a much more pronounced diuretic effect, however, many allow themselves to be able to kill almost a kilogram of pulp in one sitting.
5. Caffeine improves athletic performance
The substance increases the level of stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol, which tone the muscle system, energize the body and increase productivity, allowing you to work almost to the limit. That is why the IOC considers caffeine to be a natural dope - its traces in the urine lead to disqualification of an athlete in a competition.
Of course, a couple of mugs of a weak drink a couple of hours before the performance will not lead to career consequences. The critical value is the excess of 12 μg of caffeine per liter of urine.
4. Coffee was opened thanks to Ethiopian goats
Who would have thought that green, red and other coffee berries helped mankind discover Ethiopian goats. Once a local shepherd noted that his herd showed unprecedented energy, and even refuses to sleep at night. By the method of long-term observation of the “wards”, it was revealed that the whole thing is in the diet of animals, which included unusual colored grains.
After a certain time, people began to collect the fruits of the coffee tree and consume food to achieve a psychostimulating effect. And the first drink from grains was prepared about 700 years ago. The instant coffee was invented by the Belgian 112 years ago.
3. Coffee is good for your liver
Scientists conducted experiments and found that the risk of developing liver pathologies such as cirrhosis and fibrosis decreases depending on the amount of coffee consumed. The data were confirmed by histological examination - 4 cups per day are the prevention of these diseases in 80% of cases.
2. Coffee helps you live longer and healthier.
It has already been confirmed that coffee beans (especially green ones) contain more antioxidants than natural green tea. Of course, to release them, do not boil coffee in a Turk, but simply heat it at high temperature. Antioxidants prevent aging of cells, cleanse them of free radicals and other harmful components.
It is believed that daily consumption of a coffee drink by almost 60% reduces the likelihood of neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson, Alzheimer and other dementia). Coffee is also the prevention of hypertension, improves the sensitivity of cells to insulin, preventing the development of type 2 diabetes.
1. The first webcam in the world was made for making coffee
And you thought it was invented to secretly keep track of young children, unfaithful husbands or business colleagues? No, no, the first webcam was designed by scientists at the University of Cambridge, who created a special camera with a very useful function - to track when a valuable drink is over and give the appropriate signals.
This coffee drink is amazing - and it was invented completely by accident, and it prevents complex diseases, and helps athletes. Of course, coffee is useful in moderation, and it is named - from 2 to 4 cups per day, depending on the strength of the drink and the caffeine content.