A new study links coffee drinking with less belly fat. Previous research has linked coffee drinking with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Although the reason for this link is not completely understood, new research from Finland has uncovered more benefits of consuming coffee.
Researchers looked at the link between coffee drinking, indicators of disease, and hormones in more than 2,000 adults in their 40s. Higher coffee consumption was linked to some surprising health benefits.
Coffee and belly fat.
Adults who drank more coffee had less body fat and visceral fat, the fat around your abdomen. The coffee drinkers also had more muscle mass.
Another benefit of coffee drinking was lower circulating levels of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA). Why is this important? Chronically higher levels of BCAA are associated with insulin resistance and an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Coffee and hormones.
The coffee drinkers also had different hormone patterns, which was more pronounced in the men. Drinking more coffee was linked with a better glucose-insulin profile, higher testosterone, both total and bioavailable, and with increased concentrations of sex hormone-binding globulin, which influences the availability of sex hormones.
Luca Verroest, lead author of the study and Doctoral Researcher at the University of Oulu says,
Coffee is consumed by millions of people every day, yet we still know surprisingly little about how it relates to our metabolism and hormones. What stood out in our findings was a distinct hormonal signature that didn’t disappear even after we took into account BMI and lifestyle factors, with several of these associations differing between men and women.
Benefits of drinking coffee.
Hormones may explain some of the benefits of coffee. However, this study does not prove that coffee is the direct cause of better body composition. Coffee indirectly improves insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular health which can contribute to better overall health.
Enjoy your next cup of coffee, it may be helping to improve your health!
Change your mind, change your health,
Shayla
Eat better, live better and feel better.
Do you want to be your best at any age? Tired of feeling old and tired? You can make healthy changes at any age. It is not too late to put yourself on the "to-do list". Start looking better and feeling better right now.
Sign up to start changing how you feel about your age today!