For the 108 million Americans who drink coffee everyday, there’s good news! New research provides even more proof that there are health benefits in your morning cup o’ joe. Coffee has recently been linked to everything from fat burning to less cavities and a lower risk factor for multiple diseases.
Once upon a time, coffee had a bad rap, but much of that research has been overturned. According to Donald Hensrud of the Mayo Clinic, earlier studies did not take into account the fact that many coffee drinkers tended to be smokers and lacked sufficient physical activity. It is also not true that coffee will stunt your growth or cause heart disease. In fact, recent studies show that the benefits of coffee drinking far outweigh the risks.
While many coffee-related myths have been set aside, drinking coffee is still not recommended for children or pregnant women. An excess of 28 cups of coffee per week, or more than 4 cups per day, has been linked to negative effects on length of life and overall health. So, like many other great things in life, too much coffee is never a good thing. A healthy habit can have a positive impact, but be careful not to overdo it.
Coffee has been linked to a reduced risk in the following areas:
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Parkinson’s disease: Studies have found that the caffeine in coffee causes a reduction or delay in the development of Parkinson’s disease by as much as 80%.
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Type 2 diabetes: Drinking 3-4 cups of coffee each day is associated with a 25% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Studies show that antioxidants in coffee are most likely to be responsible for the effect.
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Liver cancer and cirrhosis: The paraxanthine found in caffeine, as well as other anti-carcinogenic ingredients are thought to be responsible for the reduced risk of liver cancer, fibrosis and cirrhosis.
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Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease: One study that followed people for 20 years found that drinking 3-5 cups daily lowered the risk of developing dementia by about 65%.
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Death from oral cancers: According to the American Cancer Society, the hundreds of biologically active compounds in coffee are known to have anti-cancer properties.
If the disease-fighting qualities aren’t enough to convince you, keep reading.
Here are 3 more reasons why coffee is good for you:
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Coffee makes you smarter: Caffeine blocks the inhibitory neurotransmitter Adenosine in the brain, which leads to improved mood and brain function.
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Coffee raises metabolism and improves athletic performance: The stimulant helps you burn fat and has been found to increase exercise performance by 11-12%.
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Coffee is full of antioxidants and nutrients: It contains vitamin B5, vitamin B2, niacin, thiamine, potassium and manganese. It is said to be the biggest source of antioxidants in the modern diet.
In order to preserve the health benefits, be careful not to pollute your beverage with sugars, creams and chemicals. If caffeine tends to affect your sleep, do not drink it in the afternoon or evening.
Different studies have had different results about the effects of coffee on your health, but the overall consensus is that when it comes to drinking coffee, the good outweighs the bad. If you aren’t a coffee drinker, you don’t need to rush out and purchase a coffee maker for your home. But coffee drinkers around the world rejoice – you can continue to wake up and smell the coffee!
The impacts of caffeine and coffee vary from person to person, based on factors like medications, smoking and exercise. It never hurts to discuss your particular situation with your local healthcare expert at [company_short]. Stop by or give us a call at [phone_main] to discuss the role of coffee in your life today.