There are two kinds of people in this world: the coffee drinkers and non-coffee drinkers. There are several reasons why some people choose not to indulge in the magical goodness that is caffeine, but most people don’t know a cup of Joe a day could keep the doctor away. Here are seven reasons why you should give coffee a try.

1. It can help make you more intelligent

Coffee has caffeine in it, which is the most commonly consumed stimulant. Caffeine’s primary job is to block the effects of Adenosine, which in turn causes your brain to release neurotransmitters like Dopamine and Norepinephrine. Several controlled trials have shown that an increase in these neurotransmitters can improve mood, reaction time, cognitive function, memory and alertness.

2. It can help you lose weight

We already mentioned how caffeine is a stimulant and can raise your metabolism and increase the oxidation of fatty acids. In addition to that, two separate meta-analyses show that caffeine can also increase exercise performance by about 12 percent.

3. It can reduce your risk of Type II Diabetes

There have been several studies that have found an association between coffee and a lowered risk of diabetes. The reduction ranged anywhere from 23 percent all the way up to 67 percent. A large review article looked at 18 of these studies and found each additional cup of coffee per day lowered diabetes risk by 7 percent.

4. You have less of a chance of getting Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s

Disease

Studies show that coffee drinkers are up to 60 percent less likely to contract Alzheimer’s, dementia and Parkinson’s.

5. It can be good for your liver

Coffee can lower the risk of liver cancer by 40 percent and can reduce the risk of end stage liver damage by up to 80 percent.

6. It can help you live longer…

… or at least reduce your risk of premature death. Two large studies have shown that coffee consumption is related to lower risk of premature death by all causes.

7. It contains a lot of nutrients and antioxidants

We bet you didn’t know one cup of coffee contained Vitamin B5, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B1, Potassium and Manganese.

So think again if you think coffee is just black water! There are several health benefits associated with coffee consumption, which is why we love to drink it. Plus, our Rembrandt coffee is delicious.

Don’t know how to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year? How about with some bagels and pink cream cheese! Wake up your special someone with breakfast in bed by whipping up some strawberry cream cheese and slathering it on some warm, freshly baked Bagel Bakery bagels. You can ever cut the bagel hole into a heart shape if you’re feeling extra festive.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 8 oz. of softened cream cheese
• 
2 tablespoons of sugar
• 1 cup fresh strawberries

Here’s what you do:

1. Combine the cream cheese, sugar and strawberries in a blender.
2. Blend until smooth
3. Use immediately, or refrigerate until needed.

Forget the chocolate and flowers this year. Head to the Bagel Bakery to pick up his or her favorite bagels and decorate them with this cream cheese and some heart sprinkles. After all, nothing says “I love you” like bagels.

Why buy one bagel when you can buy 13 bagels? For those of you who don’t know, this is an option we give our customers at the Bagel Bakery. Are you wondering, “why on earth would I need 13 bagels in one day?” Well, we’ll tell you.

1. For starters, you get 13 fresh bagels with a full bag or six with a half bag!
2. The bag of bagel turns out to be a better deal per bagel
3. You get TWO 8 oz. tubs of cream cheese with a full bag and one tub with a half bag
4. You can freeze them for future use (but make sure you slice them first)
5. You’ll be the favorite at work if you bring them in for your coworkers
6. You can hit snooze on the alarm clock an extra time because you won’t need to go out to get your bagel fix
7. You can host a breakfast party with minimal effort on your part
8. You’re going on a long road trip and don’t want to stop for snacks
9. You’re about to run a marathon and need to get some carbs in you
10. You just really like bagels and don’t care who knows it

Our Bag O’ Bagels deal is quite the steal, and we cant imagine why anyone would think otherwise. Next time you’re in the area, give our Bag O’ Bagels a try!

Dairy is in pretty much everything we eat. We’re talking about butter, yogurt, cheese pudding and even cream cheese. Sadly, some people can’t eat dairy, which limits what they can use as a spread on their bagels. We think everyone should have the option of putting some cream cheese on our Bagel Bakery bagels, so we found a recipe from The Spunky Coconut for a paleo, dairy-free coconut cream cheese spread. Whether your lactose-intolerant or just trying to consume fewer dairy products, this recipe is for you!

What you’ll need:

• 2 cans of coconut milk or 1 carton of coconut cream
• 1 teaspoon of maple syrup
• Dairy-free probiotics

What you do:

1. Make sure the coconut milk/cream separates before you begin
2. Place a cloth napkin over a mixing bowl and pour the separated milk/cream and squeeze most (but not all) the water out. The final product should look like a big ball of cheese
3. Discard excess water and place milk/cream in mixing bowl. Mix it together with the maple syrup and the probiotics
4. Keep the bowl in a warm place and let it ferment for 18-24 hours
5. Refrigerate mixture to set
6. Bring it to room temperature before use and enjoy

Recipes like these make it possible for those with a dairy intolerance to fully enjoy our bagels. Share this with some of your dairy intolerant friends!