In more recent years, it has become clear that the health of your gut is essential to your quality of life. Maintaining a diverse gut microbiome means maintaining a healthy level of microbes and bacteria in your gut that help with your digestive tract, which lowers your risk of developing disease, boost your immune systemand even improve your cognitive Y mental health.
Interestingly, research has also shown that drinking coffee can provide some of those same benefits as well. It has been shown that coffee reduce the risk of disease Y improve cognitive and mental health, among other things. So could the two be connected in some way?
While the research is still new on the link between coffee and gut health, studies show that the antioxidant content in coffee can positively modify the gut microbiome.
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A study in nutrients evaluated the gut microbiota of three categories of coffee drinkers: non-coffee drinkers, moderate drinkers (3 to 45 milliliters per day), and heavy coffee drinkers (45 to 500 milliliters per day). They discovered that the health of the intestinal environment could be related to polyphenols found in coffee, a type of antioxidant is known to have protective effects against chronic diseases such as obesity, neurodegenerative diseases, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
A presentation at 84th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology also noted the benefits of coffee on the gut microbiome and concluded that participants who drank two or more cups of coffee per day exhibited healthier gut microbiomes compared to those who drank less coffee. While the reasoning behind this connection requires more research, the evidence is promising regarding the connection between the polyphenol content of coffee and the diversity of the gut microbiota.
The connection between polyphenols and the gut microbiota is already well known. Other nutrients The review noted how dietary polyphenols can positively affect the composition and function of the gut microbiome by fighting pathogenic gut microflora, also known as the type of bacteria that can cause disease. Polyphenols are generally found in healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, dark chocolate, and even Red wine— and have been shown to benefit health due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Also, polyphenols are usually found in foods that contain prebioticsThey help feed the good bacteria that are already in the gut.
So along with throwing some blueberries in you oatmeal (both beneficial for gut health), sipping your morning cup of coffee can also ensure an even healthier gut for a long time to come.
kiersten hickman
Kiersten Hickman is an Associate Editor at Eat This, Not That!, with a primary focus on food coverage, nutrition, and recipe development. read more
