Acupuncture, Chinese massage, oriental beauty tea… Many of us are curious whenever we hear about those “Ancient Chinese Secrets” that some people swear by. Fortunately for you, I have a bachelor’s degree in the Chinese language and came across this very interesting article on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and its angle on coffee and all the health benefits it includes. So here are 15 reasons why they think coffee is good for you. Enjoy!
- Coffee refreshes and clears the mind. As if we didn’t know this already, but TCM really goes into depth as they explain why our brain feels more refreshed after having that cup of joe. The rich aroma of coffee easily stimulates the central nervous system and promotes brain activity, which in turn makes the mind able to think more clearly. This also explains why after drinking coffee you may have more inspiration, a higher thinking and concentration ability, and improved work efficiency. Coffee also stimulates the cerebral cortex, which promotes one’s sense of feeling, judgment and enhances memory. No wonder why we need that coffee when we are prepping for a test or a challenging day at work.
2. Coffee is good for bones, joints, and exercise regimes. Have you ever had coffee before a workout and then feel like your invincible? I myself love having coffee before I do gymnastics because I would feel… just… really fierce. This is because caffeine induces muscle contraction as well as increases tendon strength and improves motor function. You may also feel like the little voice inside your head that usually tells you when to stop just isn’t there, so during your workouts, you may feel more inclined to break your last record, or do something a little more extreme. Why don’t we just change the name to motivation in a cup?
3. Coffee aids in digestion. This is another thing that we probably already knew, but lets look a little deeper. Caffeine stimulates the sympathetic nervous system (think fight or flight) which makes peristaltic movement (involuntary movements of the digestive tract) increase. This may be why after you have that grande Caffè Americano you have no problem going to the bathroom afterwards. Caffeine also stimulates the gastrointestinal tract to secrete gastric acid and promote digestion, which in turn prevents bloating and constipation. What a miracle!
4. Coffee destroys fat cells. Wait, whaat？That’s right, according to TCM, caffeine can accelerate the decomposition of fat cells and increase the body’s metabolic rate. On a side note, bathing with coffee powder is an excellent skin treatment that helps to tighten and sooth skin. We all need to pamper ourselves a little more, so save some money and give yourself your own at-home spa caffeine anti-cellulite treatment. You’ll thank me later.
5. Coffee reduces bloating. Caffeine promotes kidney function and removes excess bodily fluids and sodium retention. Drinking coffee thus improves bloating, edema and weight loss.
6. Coffee improves blood circulation. The linoleic acid contained in coffee can cause mild hemolysis, which breaks down red blood cells. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, hemolysis natually occurs during exercise, and is a means of removing aged cells from the bloodstream. This occurrence prevents thrombosis (blood clots), enhances the constriction of blood vessels, promotes blood circulation, and relieves pressure headaches, especially migraines. Having healthy blood circulation is important because blood carries oxygen and nutrients to working cells throughout the body, including the skin, thus nourishing skin cells. In addition to providing oxygen, blood flow also helps carry away waste products, including free radicals. Coffee also helps restore elasticity to muscles and skin, and prevents vascular disease.
7. Coffee has anti-aging properties. Coffee has that rich dark color and slight bitterness because it is rich in antioxidants. Although many people focus on teas, fruits and vegetables being high in anti-aging antioxidants, some research reports indicate that coffee contains 4 times more antioxidant substances than tea. So coffee scores extra points in fighting free radicals. Yay!
8. Coffee is a mood booster. TCM claims that drinking the appropriate amount of coffee can help people feel excited, put them in a joyful mood, forget about their troubles, alleviate depression, relieve stress, and relax. Sounds about right.
9.Coffee aids lungs in fighting asthma. Caffeine boosts the body’s sympathetic nerves (fight or flight) and suppresses parasympathetic nerves(our body’s rest and digest system). These effects on the body are much likened to the drugs used to treat asthma, which try to activate the sympathetic response and block the parasympathetic response. This is because during sympathetic activity (like fighting bad guys) the airways need to dilate in order to get more oxygen into the lungs and around the body. So basically, coffee is like an asthma medication, it can help open the breathing airways. I bet you didn’t know that one.
10. Coffee can deodorize smells. Caffeine contains tannin, which can eliminate mouth odors such as garlic and meat. Very interesting…(But what about coffee breath?)
11. Coffee can relive hangover symptoms. Drinking coffee after having alcohol will rapidly oxidize the acetaldehyde (a contributing cause of a hangover after alcohol consumption) converted from alcohol, decompose it into water and carbon dioxide and excrete it from the body.
12. Coffee may help prevent Gallstones. Caffeine can stimulate the gallbladder to shrink and reduce the formation of gallstones in the bile. For men who drink two or three cups of coffee a day, the chance of getting gallstones is less than 40%. To me personally, I don’t think 40% is that low of a number, but were going with it.
13. Coffee protects dry eyes. Research claims that coffee drinkers are significantly less likely to suffer from dry eye syndrome than those who do not drink coffee. This is mainly related to the purine composition in coffee, which stimulates the glands to secrete liquid and thus protect the eyes. This is great for all those who sit in front of a screen monitor all day long. Drink up！
14. Coffee provides pain relief. For the times you have a headache because you didn’t sleep well the night before, or when you have a pressure headache in your side temples due to your blood vessels constricting, coffee can eliminate that discomfort. TCM recommends however, that you stick to having coffee only in the morning or at noon.
15. Coffee can reduce the risk of stroke. Coffee can accelerate the metabolism of cholesterol and reduce coronary atheroma. Coronary atheroma is the build-up of fatty deposits on the walls of the arteries, and will restrict blood flow to the heart. Reducing the chance of coronary atheroma thus reduces the chance of stroke. Who knew?
So there you have it, 15 benefits of drinking coffee according to Chinese Medicine. Of course, there are many different kinds and fields of Chinese doctors, all having different opinions. Some may feel that coffee should not be consumed at all. But it is fabulous to know that some of our friends in the eastern world enjoy coffee just as much as we do. Have any questions or concerns? Please let me know in the comment box below, I’d love to hear from you.
Creating Coffee 