It’s 7am, your alarm is going off, it sounds louder than most mornings. The thought of having even the most basic of conversations with anyone is enough to have you hitting that snooze button. Does this sound like you? It’s okay, most people feel this way.
There is an answer to this, and I think we all know what I’m about to say next. The answer is coffee! Mornings seem almost unbearable with out that morning brew.
Coffee dates back to the 11th century when it was first discovered in Ethiopia by a goat herder by the name of Kaldi. It is said that Kaldi discovered coffee when he would eat certain berries from a certain tree he would be able to stay up through the hours of the evening. Yes, coffee beans are actually berries!
Okay, let’s fast-forward to the 21st century when life is fast and we are working crazy hours. Around the world, we seem to all need caffeine. Now let’s see how this beautiful berry helps us with our day-to-day activities!
Let’s get the obvious out of the way first. It wakes us up! It is what coffee is known for, it is why it has become a house hold item for centuries. It is a very effective stimulant with its effects being felt quite quickly.
Now for a few benefits which may be a little less known.
A serving of coffee contains more antioxidants than grape juice, blue berries, raspberries and oranges. A study from from the European Journal of Neurology has also shown evidence that caffeine may protect against Alzheimer’s disease.
Caffeine has been proven to reduce inflammation which helps with aches and pains. It is also a remedy for the common headache (so you have a higher tolerance for that colleague you secretly can’t handle).
So caffeine doesn’t just taste amazing – it’s also a big tick for health and wellbeing. It has been around for centuries and will continue to be a staple in our daily lives.
Next time it’s Monday morning and you are struggling to function, just have your first cup of the day – it won’t be long until you wake up to a long list of health benefits.