Coffee and Antioxidants: Why Your Morning Cup Is More Powerful Than You Think

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Coffee and Antioxidants: Why Your Morning Cup Is More Powerful Than You Think

Coffee drinkers drink coffee to wake up.

And that’s not wrong.

But…

That morning cup is doing far more than helping shake off sleep inertia.

Dark roast coffee is one of the most antioxidant-rich drinks on earth — and almost every daily drinker has no idea just how antioxidant dense coffee actually is.

Let’s dig into the facts…

What You’ll Learn:

1. What Are Antioxidants & Why Should You Care?
2. What Makes Dark Roast Coffee Special?
3. Dark Roast Coffee Has Unique Health Benefits:
   1. It Restores Key Antioxidants Directly In the Blood
   2. It’s Much Gentler On the Stomach
   3. Coffee May Help With Weight Loss
   4. Dark Coffee Could Mean Longer Life
4. How To Get More Out Of Every Cup Of Coffee

What Are Antioxidants & Why Should You Care?

Before jumping into the health benefits of dark roast coffee and antioxidants, let’s clear up what antioxidants are in the first place.

The human body is assaulted by free radicals every day. They’re unstable molecules that can harm cells. Antioxidants protect cells from these free radicals.

Think of antioxidants like the body’s bouncers…keeping trouble at bay and protecting health.

Coffee is loaded with antioxidants.

When it comes to Western diets, up to 70% of antioxidants come from coffee. That means more antioxidants from coffee than fruits, vegetables, tea, and wine…combined.

No exaggeration.

Except with coffee, the antioxidants available depend a lot on how the beans were roasted. Dark roasted coffee is where things get really interesting.

What Makes Dark Roast Coffee Special?

Dark roast coffee isn’t simply coffee that’s roasted “dark.”

The roast level matters. Coffee roasted darker has a completely different antioxidant makeup than coffee roasted lightly or even medium.

During the roasting process, those amazing antioxidants found in coffee change dramatically.

Two compounds called melanoidins and N-methylpyridinium (NMP) are formed during the dark roasting process. Both have strong antioxidant effects.

Scientific studies have shown that dark roast coffee improves antioxidant levels in the bloodstream.

They don’t form during light roasting.

Light roast coffee simply doesn’t have these antioxidants. So drinking a light coffee won’t provide the same benefits that come from dark roast coffee.

For anyone serious about the quality of their dark roast coffee, consider checking out Mystic Monk Coffee. Hand-roasted in Wyoming by Carmelite monks, they are one of the premier specialty dark roast coffee brands out there. Their beans are roasted slowly to ensure the highest quality coffee possible every time.

Dark roast coffee is packed with antioxidants and completely changes the antioxidant profile of a coffee drinking routine.

Dark Roast Coffee Has Unique Health Benefits

It Restores Key Antioxidants Directly In the Blood

Let’s start with the research.

In one study published by PubMed, subjects were given dark roast coffee to drink every day for four weeks.

Researchers measured blood levels of glutathione and tocopherol, also known as vitamin E. Both are key antioxidants that help the body fight off toxins and repair cell damage.

After four weeks, dark roast coffee drinkers experienced…

• A 14% increase to glutathione levels.
• A 41% increase to vitamin E levels.

Dark roast coffee drinkers saw significant increases to two different antioxidants…straight through the bloodstream.

Light roast coffee didn’t lead to the same results.

Seriously. That’s huge. Don’t overlook it.

It’s Much Gentler On the Stomach

Ever have coffee hurt the stomach?

It’s one of the most common problems with coffee. But dark roast coffee can seriously help with that problem.

Roasting coffee produces NMP (that antioxidant mentioned earlier). Dark roasted coffee produces more NMP because it goes through a longer roasting process.

NMP helps lessen gastric acid production in the body. Which means dark roast coffee might be easier on the stomach than expected.

For anyone who has trouble drinking coffee because of acid reflux, give dark roast coffee a try. It might just solve the problem.

Coffee May Help With Weight Loss

Coffee and weight loss? Stay with it.

A study done on pre-obese individuals found that those drinking dark roast coffee lost significantly more body weight than those drinking light roast coffee.

NMP is the likely cause.

Fun fact: caffeine is not an antioxidant.

Dark roast has plenty of health benefits that go far beyond antioxidants. But even taking antioxidants out of the equation, a daily coffee habit could be more helpful than most realize.

Dark Coffee Could Mean Longer Life

To put it plainly: daily coffee drinkers live longer.

Evidence shows that drinking between 1.5-3.5 cups of coffee per day is linked to a 30% lower risk of mortality. Researchers have linked that benefit to antioxidants found in coffee.

Regular dark roast coffee consumption has been linked to…

• Lower risk of type 2 diabetes.
• Decreased inflammation throughout the body.
• Improved markers of cardiovascular health.
• Reduced chance of neurodegenerative disease like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

The list goes on.

Just remember…

There’s no need to drink 3 cups of dark roast coffee tomorrow to start seeing benefits.

Most studies point to a minimum of 3 cups per day to start experiencing health benefits. But most daily coffee drinkers are probably already at that level.

Dark roast coffee won’t solve all problems. But drinking daily means there’s a good chance coffee is already helping support a healthier life.

How To Get More Out Of Every Cup Of Coffee

There’s no trick formula for getting more antioxidants out of coffee.

No need to run it through three different filters before drinking. No need to add fancy spices or potions to boost health benefits.

But there are a couple of things that can unlock more health benefits from every daily cup.

Start With Whole Beans

Pre-ground coffee loses antioxidants the longer it sits.

That doesn’t mean pouring coffee grounds straight into a cup and brewing. Just start with whole bean coffee.

More antioxidants are retained when buying whole beans and grinding right before brewing. Pre-ground coffee simply can’t compare to the freshness of grinding fresh.

Black Is Better

It’s not ideal.

But to get the most antioxidants from coffee, drinking it black is best. Creamer, milk, sugar…none of that blocks antioxidants from entering the system. But it does dilute the coffee. Which means fewer antioxidants per ounce.

If something must be added to coffee, try using half and half or whole milk.

Drink It Daily

The research is pretty clear that moderate coffee consumption is healthy. 3-5 cups per day is where most studies hover.

One big cup isn’t enough. Try to spread consumption out throughout the day.

Drink Coffee Without A Paper Filter

Paper filters filter out natural oils found in coffee grounds.

French presses and metal filters allow more of those natural oils to make it into the cup. Those oils contain helpful antioxidants. Don’t throw them away.

Buy From Fresh Roasters

The roasting process affects antioxidants in coffee beans. The longer coffee sits after roasting, the fewer antioxidants are available from drinking it.

Where possible, buy from coffee roasters that ship fresh roasted coffee beans directly. Or head to a local roaster and grab a bag that’s been on the shelf for less than a month.

Pretty simple stuff overall.

Coffee isn’t magic. Antioxidants aren’t magic.

They can help people live healthier, more enjoyable lives. But just like anything else worthwhile, the coffee has to actually be consumed.

The Bottom Line

Dark roast coffee is strong coffee for a reason.

Not only does it taste more robust than typical light coffee, but dark roast coffee is also packed with antioxidants the body will benefit from.

Here are the key things to remember:

• Dark roasted coffee creates unique antioxidants the body can’t get from lighter roasts.
• Dark roast has been clinically proven to increase antioxidants directly in the bloodstream.
• Coffee can be easier on the stomach than expected, especially when ordered dark roast.
• Studies show coffee can have long-term health benefits and lower the risk of disease.

Most coffee drinkers are probably already drinking coffee every day.

Here’s to making the most of it.