The Benefits of Drinking Black Coffee

I recently started drinking a black coffee every morning lately for a few reasons - one to coincide with my intermittent fasting as a plain drink, also to break the fact that the first thing I put into my body is usually a tea with milk and sugar. After I started drinking it, then going to the gym within half an hour to an hour afterwards, I found that I had so much more energy and my trainer confirmed that black coffee gives you that surge of energy. I've also noticed a change in my body in terms of bloating and digestion too. With all that being said, I've had a look into the benefits of drinking black coffee and thought I'd share them with you. 

1. Increase in energy: Well duh, it's caffeine. I think we all know this one because when we need a pick me up in the work day, we lean for a coffee. Whether it's making one at home or popping to the nearest Starbucks or Costa, we grab a coffee to get us through. But when you have a plain black coffee as opposed to say a caramel latte (my preference), it's going to give you that little bit more. 

2. Apparently, you can get a tad smarter: Take this one with a pinch of salt, it's not going to make you a genius but it'll improve your general mental functions, mood, reaction times and so on. Basically it'll keep you a little more focused. (Healthline)

3. Burn, baby, burn: This is probably the most exciting one for me, but again take it lightly. According to studies, black coffee is said to increase your metabolic rate from 3-11%. This can also be reduced overtime in habitual coffee drinkers too. So take a break every now and then too. 

4. That extra kick: Healthline says that "caffeine stimulates the nervous system, signalling fat cells to break down in the body... (as well as) increase adrenaline levels in the blood." My gym trainer said it's best to drink one at least half an hour before I head for a workout, so that my energy is higher and I can push myself more. Plus it's great for that adding fat burn. 

5. All the nutrients, none of the extras: There's literally nothing unnecessary in a cup of black coffee - no sugar, no fat, no carbs, just a little bit of potassium*. However it contains a bunch of vitamins too - vitamin B5, B2, B3 & B1 (which sound like gibberish) as well as potassium and magnesium. It's also one of the best sources of antioxidants in the world, so if that doesn't convince you then I don't know what will. 

With these 5 factors, coffee is also known to aid depreciation in illnesses such as cancer, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, liver disease and depression in cases. Whilst I can't speak to that personally, but science can, I can attest to the other benefits of drinking black coffee. At first, it can be a bit bitter, I won't lie. You'll want to add sugar or milk, but avoid it. Push past that, soon enough you'll drink black coffee as you do plain tea or green tea. Honestly, it's lifted my energy levels and helped with my bloating and I couldn't suggest it more. 

*PRO-TIP, ACCORDING TO MY TRAINER: Take breaks in between coffee drinking if you want to keep up the increase in metabolism and energy surges. If you take a break every few weeks or after a month or two, your system won't get overly used to black coffee and won't adapt or deteriorate or return your metabolism or energy levels back to what they were before you started drinking black coffee.

Would you take the plunge into black coffee drinking? And if you already do drink it, do you see the same benefits or no? Let me know, I'd love to see how other people find it. 

Lots of Love, 

Emily xx