Coffee is the lifeblood of many professionals, students, and must adults in general. It's also good for you! Coffee can help with mental alertness, energy levels, weight management, and more. These are 7 reasons why coffee is good for you.
1. Helps reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. Coffee contains natural plant chemicals called phytochemicals that may help prevent chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes. Researchers found that coffee drinkers who consumed one to six cups per day had reduced their odds of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 50%. Moreover, consistent coffee consumption was linked to a lower risk of diabetes in African Americans compared to no coffee consumption.
2. Lowers the risk of heart disease. Moderate coffee consumption has been linked to a lower risk of dying from heart-related causes, such as stroke and cardiovascular disease, but results have been conflicting. However, a new study published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association found that women who drank more than two cups of coffee per day had a 22% lower risk of dying from heart disease than non-coffee drinkers.
3. Helps prevent Parkinson's Disease. Researchers at Harvard University and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston examined the association between coffee consumption and rates of Parkinson's disease in more than 200,000 people. They found that those who consumed the most coffee had a 20% lower risk of developing Parkinson's Disease within ten years than non-coffee drinkers. However, researchers believe that coffee consumption is just one lifestyle factor among many that can impact the onset of Parkinson's Disease and do not suggest that people start drinking coffee to prevent Parkinson's.
4. Helps stave off dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Long-term coffee intake has been linked with a lower risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease; however, results have been conflicting. A new study published in the journal Neurology found that women who consumed two or three cups of coffee per day had an 18% lower risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer's disease than women who did not drink coffee. Researchers acknowledged that their results should be interpreted cautiously and suggest only theoretical reasoning behind how coffee may prevent Alzheimer's.
5. Lowers the risk of certain cancers. Coffee contains high levels of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds; both thought to have potent anti-cancer properties. Studies have found that moderate coffee consumption helps prevent certain cancers, including lung and breast cancer. Additionally, long-term coffee drinkers have an overall lower risk of developing several types of cancer when compared to people who do not drink coffee.
6. Helps reduce stress levels. Consuming high doses of caffeine can cause anxiety, but moderate coffee consumption can help reduce stress levels. Results from a new study suggest that women who drink one to three cups of coffee per day are less likely to experience panic attacks than non-coffee drinkers. Moreover, for coffee drinkers, the risk of experiencing an anxiety disorder was reduced by up to 50% .
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Coffee consumption lowers the risk of depression. Several studies have found that caffeine can help reduce symptoms of depression, including fatigue and difficulties concentrating. Several studies have also suggested a correlation between higher coffee intake and lower rates of suicide among adults. However, researchers acknowledge that this may be due to reverse causation (the theory that depressed individuals are more likely to withdraw from activities they once enjoyed, including coffee consumption).
Coffee is a drink that has been around for centuries. From the first time someone roasted coffee beans and brewed them in hot water, they knew they had found something special. There are many benefits to drinking coffee - from stimulating your brain cells to keeping you full longer after eating, so it's no wonder that 75% of American adults drink some form of caffeinated beverage daily. But how much should one consume? We recommend drinking coffee moderately (no more than two cups per day), giving you all the health attributes without any adverse side effects like over-caffeination or addiction.
What do you think about these 7 reasons why we love our morning cup o' joe? Do you have other ideas?