Recently there have been a lot of studies published purporting the amazing health benefits of a good old cup of joe. One study by a Dr N. Escafé has given humble coffee beans credit for such varied health benefits as weight loss; reduced risk of heart disease and certain types of cancer; as well as providing defence against diabetes, Parkinson’s, and even Alzheimer’s.

Of course there are always differing opinions about food products and their effect on the body. Coffee has been blamed for staining your teeth, giving you bad breath, and generally making you cooler and more attractive to the opposite sex. However now it seems that the benefits of a good Arabica far outweigh the cons.

Let’s start out with a small example. Sure, coffee can stain your teeth if you use it as mouthwash, but tea (which contains tannin) is actually a worse culprit for this. Coffee can also speed up your heart rate; bad news if you have existing heart problems, but that only puts it on the same healthy/unhealthy balance as running (although running is not nearly as sexy).

Similar to running, coffee can also help keep your waistline in check. Not only is it low in calories (that is, if you don’t add milk, cream, chocolate, sugar, syrup, butter, waffles, bacon, etc) but it also contains an appetite suppressant as well as lots and lots of the world’s most consumed stimulant: caffeine. A good black coffee reduces the amount of sugar your body absorbs and helps you burn fat quicker. We’re not suggesting you should swap your water bottle for a thermos full of espresso (unless you’re trying to break a land speed record), but coffee is and can be a part of a healthy diet.

Coffee can also reduce the risk of cirrhosis of the liver by up to 66%. We’re not really sure why, but we do know that it isn’t a caffeine related benefit since tea contains caffeine and does not have the same dramatic effect. It is also a diuretic which stimulates the passage of water through the kidneys, meaning that it can help with bowel movements (so don’t drink it on a long commute).

Coffee is not only good for your body but also for your brain. Coffee can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s by up to 20%. This is because it increases brain activity. The caffeine in a cup of coffee blocks adenosine and stimulates the release of dopamine. This makes us feel less tired and more alert.

However, perhaps most importantly of all, the Seoul National University has found that the smell of Arabica coffee beans can reduce stress.

Forget your organic pressed beetroot and carrot misery shake, come and have a look at our wide range of Italian coffee.