Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages on the planet. Many say they cannot survive without it. Often, the first thing people do in the morning is brew it. It wakes them up.

But beyond that, it turns out that coffee is actually good for you in a lot of different ways. It may just be one of the healthiest drinks there is. Here are some of the health benefits of drinking coffee.

  • It boosts your energy and mood.

Most coffee drinkers already know this – it’s why they drink it. Everyone knows coffee contains caffeine, which is a stimulant. It works by blocking an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, which means that it blocks a substance that slows the action of the neuron. As a result, other neurotransmitters that excite the neurons increase.

Since coffee boosts your energy, it should come as no surprise to learn that it also enhances your physical performance. It does this by causing your body to release more adrenaline, and, by breaking down body fat, makes it available as fuel.

  • It helps burn fat.

Caffeine again is responsible for this because it helps to increase your metabolism from 3 to 11 percent. Caffeine can increase the rate at which the body burns fat by 10 percent in obese people and by 30 percent in thinner people.

  • It contains important vitamins and minerals.

Coffee contains vitamins B2, B3, B5, and the minerals potassium and magnesium.

  • May lower the risk of getting diabetes Type 2.

Studies have shown that coffee drinkers reduce their risk of getting Type 2 diabetes anywhere from around 20 to 70 percent.

  • May reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.

Studies show that people who drink coffee have a 65 percent lower risk of Alzheimer’s.

  • Can reduce the risk of depression.

Research has also shown that people who drink four or more cups of coffee a day had a 20 percent lower chance of becoming depressed.

  • It may help you live longer.

A large study that took place over more than 20 years showed that coffee drinkers reduced their chances of dying by 20 to 25 percent over that time period.

  • It provides more antioxidants than any other food source.

People get more antioxidants from their coffee than from fruits and vegetables combined.

So, you may not give much thought to that dark liquid steaming in your mug, but it packs quite a wallop.