The Benefits Of Coffee Feeling guilty about grabbing that third cup of coffee? Our Health & Fitness Expert explains why it's not such a bad idea.

entrepreneur daily

Q: My business partner and I recently moved from working in our own home offices to sharing a small office in town. While I'm very excited about the move, my partner drinks a lot of coffee. I enjoy a cup now and then, but with him brewing a fresh pot each morning and afternoon, I'm tempted to drink much more than normal. I've heard so much about caffeine, for and against. How does caffeine affect my health?

A: Mmmm.coffee. It's one of my favorite beverages. And it's not just the rich, soothing taste-it's the caffeine that I love, too. Most mornings I'm up and working in my home office by 5 am and teaching fitness classes by 8 am. I drink two to three cups of coffee every day, and my experiences with caffeine, along with the research I've done, have been enough to convince me that it's not only safe for healthy people, but it also has some definite perks.

Caffeine is the subject of considerable ongoing research. Year after year, studies report the pros and cons of caffeine consumption. The common theme, revealed by organizations such as The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Medical Association, is that a moderate intake of caffeine doesn't contribute to disease in an otherwise healthy person. It won't cause cancer. It won't cause high blood pressure. But it just might facilitate fat burning and spark your creativity.

Caffeine speeds up our metabolism. (Maybe that's why it's the active ingredient in most diet pills.) It also breaks down fat, freeing fatty acids that can be burned during exercise. Studies have shown that conversion of fat to energy is about 30 percent more efficient when caffeine is consumed prior to exercise.

Does this mean that caffeine burns fat? Not exactly. The caffeine-enhanced fat burning can only occur while we're exercising. So don't expect to drop pounds simply by drinking an extra cup of joe each day.

With fatty acids loose in the bloodstream and more available as a source of energy, glycogen and glucose (blood sugars) are reserved, allowing blood sugar levels to remain higher for longer. Higher glucose levels ward off hunger. This is why coffee is popular among students and think-tankers. The brain functions exclusively on glucose, and higher blood sugar levels facilitate thinking.

Now I'm not advocating everyone should run out and pump themselves with mega doses of caffeine. I'd just like to offer my opinion and some research to show that it doesn't necessarily deserve the bad rep it so often gets. As always, if you have any medical problems, check with your doctor about using caffeine. And, of course, cut down if you're pregnant.

As far as your fear of drinking too much coffee, the latest research says three to four cups of coffee are perfectly safe for a healthy person. But before you reach for the coffee cup, stop to think why. If it's because you get that sluggish feeling in the early afternoon, try a cold glass of water and a brisk walk around the block to get your blood flowing. But if you truly love the taste, an extra cup in the afternoon is not necessarily unhealthy.


Learn More
  • If you're noticing a few extra inches around your waste, check out "Waist Not" for tips on how to battle the bulge.


Shannon Entin is the publisher and editor of FitnessLink (www.fitnesslink.com) and co-author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Online Health and Fitness (Macmillan). An ACE-certified (American Council on Exercise) fitness instructor, Shannon thrives on inspiring people to live healthier lifestyles.


The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author, not of Entrepreneur.com. All answers are intended to be general in nature, without regard to specific geographical areas or circumstances, and should only be relied upon after consulting an appropriate expert, such as an attorney or accountant.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Side Hustle

I Started a Semi-Passive Side Hustle That Earns $33,000 a Week on Amazon: 'Selling There Is a No-Brainer'

Dr. Jenny Woo wanted to create a product that would help people connect, and it turned out to be a lucrative one.

Marketing

How Augmented Reality Is Transforming the Marketing Landscape — and How Your Business Can Leverage It Effectively

How can physical goods be endowed with digital content? What is phygital marketing, and why will everyone be involved in it in the next five years? Here's what you need to know.

Business News

X Is Losing Users and Struggling to Attract Creators, According to New Data

The company, which is owned by Elon Musk, says that 1.7 million people join the platform every day.

Science & Technology

Why You Should Incorporate AI into Your Business — and How to Do It the Right Way

The proliferation of generative AI tools has made the technology ever more accessible and relevant. Here's how you can apply it to your business as well.

Money & Finance

You Might Spend Unnecessary Money If You Don't Stay on Top of Your Expenses. Here's How to Manage Them.

Nothing makes paying taxes even more onerous — or gets in the way of a firm understanding of how a business is performing — than ineffective expense management. Use these five expense management tips to not merely survive as a business, but thrive.