By Nora Heston Tarte
March is Caffeine Awareness Month and to celebrate, we’re taking a look at the biggest benefits our favorite caffeinated beverage has to offer. Not only does coffee keep us functioning, it boasts health benefits galore and is even recommended in certain diets as a power food. You may even want to surprise yourself with a roaster’s choice subscription as a treat every now and then. Read on to justify your coffee habit.
The Diet
The hottest new diet doesn’t only observe the benefits of coffee, other vices are included, too. Based on the consumption of sirtfood, the sirtuin diet bolsters genes that help fight age-related changes such as a slowing metabolism, forgetfulness, and reproductive health. The best part? Top sirtfoods-all revered as sirtuin activators-are blackcurrants, green tea, dark chocolate (yes, you read that right), kale, olives, capers, parsley, onions, turmeric, and omega-3 fish oil.
Sweeten the pot on your morning routine by grabbing a local coffee concoction:
A Carmella Latte at Empresso Coffeehouse in Stockton is the ultimate pick-me-up. Satisfy your sweet tooth with the espresso-caramel sauce-vanilla-steamed milk concoction while ensuring a healthy dose of much-needed caffeine. 1825 Pacific Ave., Stockton (209) 941-0072, EmpressoCoffeeHouse.com
Looking for superior drip coffee? House of Coffees in Lodi is the place to go. Grab one of many iced and hot beverages and take advantage of the milk alternatives. Coconut milk, almond milk, and soymilk are all available. 239 N. Ham Ln., Lodi (209) 368-2611
Barista’s in Tracy is king of customization. From mochas and cappuccinos to brewed coffees, each drink is crafted using the shop’s impressive flavor list. As an added bonus, every hot drink can be served iced instead, granting guests the same caffeine kick without the heat. 112 W. 10th St., Tracy (209) 830-6050, BaristasTracy.com
Bye, Bye Caffeine Guilt
All diets aside, caffeine boasts a ton of health benefits that make pouring an extra cup of morning Joe a no-brainer. So, scoop some high-quality beans into your coffeemaker and forgo the guilt. Here’s a sample of the good that morning jolt does for your body (aside from making you a fully-functional, upbeat individual before 8 AM)
- As seen above, coffee has been linked to boosting memory. It even helps ward off Alzheimer’s.
- Is hair loss a problem? Caffeine stimulates hair growth for both men and women.
- Caffeine has been linked to reducing the risk for certain types of cancer-including skin, mouth, and throat varieties.
- It’s good for your mental health, too. People who consume caffeine have a lower suicide risk.
- Reproductive health also benefits. Caffeine has been linked to increasing both quantity and quality of semen, as well as warding off erectile dysfunction.
- When adequate sleep isn’t an option, caffeine makes you more alert, which increases safety for you and those around you.
- Caffeinated coffee has been linked to not only weight loss, but also the ability to keep weight off.