The Health Benefits in your Coffee Cup

How many of you have cut down on coffee because you thought it might be bad for you? How many have eliminated it completely? How many people think they drink too much of it, and wish they could cut down? Worry no more, my friends - your morning (or afternoon - or both) mug of steamy brown goodness - is actually pretty good for you! Think I'm kidding? NOPE! Keep reading!

Before we really get into the beans and grinds of it (I was gonna say meat and potatoes but since we're talking coffee, beans and grinds sounded better), I want to clarify - I'm not talking about your mocha choka latte double frapuccino with a squirt or two of that salted caramel flavoring, topped with a mound of whipped cream; I'm talking, most specifically, about black, unaltered, organic, pure arabica coffee. Light roast, dark roast, espresso, Jamaican Peaberry, Hawaiian Kona, French Roast, Breakfast Blend, Sumatra - as long as we're not muddying up the waters with a bunch of goop, it all counts. How you dress it up (or if you dress it up), is up to you, but just remember - while those squirts don't detract from your daily dose of Joe, they aren't benefiting (and may be harming) your health.

Caffeine blocks an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, which leads to a stimulant effect. This improves energy levels, mood and various aspects of brain function. Many controlled trials in humans show that coffee improves various aspects of brain function. This includes memory, mood, vigilance, energy levels, reaction times and general cognitive function.

Several studies show that caffeine can increase fat burning in the body and boost the metabolic rate. Studies show that caffeine can specifically increase the burning of fat, by as much as 10% in obese individuals and 29% in lean people!

Caffeine can increase adrenaline levels and release fatty acids from the fat tissues. It also leads to significant improvements in physical performance.

Coffee contains several important nutrients, including Riboflavin, Pantothenic Acid, Manganese, Potassium, Magnesium and Niacin.

A single cup of coffee contains:

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2): 11% of the RDA.

Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5): 6% of the RDA.

Manganese and Potassium: 3% of the RDA.

Magnesium and Niacin (B3): 2% of the RDA.

Although this may not seem like a big deal, most people are drinking more than one cup per day. If you drink 3-4, then these amounts quickly add up.

Several observational studies show that coffee drinkers have a much lower risk of getting type II diabetes. The studies show that people who drink the most coffee have a 23-50% lower risk of getting this disease, one study showing a reduction as high as 67%!

Coffee drinkers have a much lower risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for Alzheimer’s.

However, there are several things you can do to prevent the disease from showing up in the first place. This includes the usual suspects like eating healthy and exercising, but drinking coffee may be incredibly effective as well.

Several studies show that coffee drinkers have up to a 65% lower risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease.

Coffee drinkers have up to a 60% lower risk of getting Parkinson’s disease, the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, right after Alzheimer’s.It is caused by death of dopamine-generating neurons in the brain.

As with Alzheimer’s, there is no known cure, which makes it that much more important to focus on prevention.

In studies, coffee drinkers have a much lower risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, with a reduction in risk ranging from 32-60%.

It appears to be the caffeine itself that is causing the effect. People who drink decaf don’t have a lower risk of Parkinson’s.

Coffee drinkers have a much lower risk of developing cirrhosis, which can be caused by several diseases that affect the liver. People who drink 4 or more cups per day have up to an 80% lower risk!

Coffee appears to lower the risk of developing depression and may dramatically reduce the risk of suicide. In a Harvard study published in 2011, women who drank 4 or more cups per day had a 20% lower risk of becoming depressed. Another study with 208,424 individuals found that those who drank 4 or more cups per day were 53% less likely to commit suicide.

Coffee Drinkers Have a Lower Risk of Some Types of Cancer. Liver and colorectal cancer are the 3rd and 4th leading causes of cancer death worldwide. Coffee drinkers have a lower risk of both. Studies show that coffee drinkers have up to a 40% lower risk of liver cancer. One study of 489,706 individuals found that those who drank 4-5 cups of coffee per day had a 15% lower risk of colorectal cancer.

It's looking like 4 cups a day is that magic number. And on that note, time for a refill!

There is some evidence that women who drink coffee have a reduced risk of heart disease. Some studies also show that coffee drinkers have a 20% lower risk of stroke.

Given that coffee drinkers are less likely to get many diseases, it makes sense that coffee could help you live longer.

There are actually several observational studies showing that coffee drinkers have a lower risk of death. In two very large studies, drinking coffee was associated with a 20% lower risk of death in men and a 26% lower risk of death in women, over a period of 18-24 years.

Coffee is The Biggest Source of Antioxidants in The Western Diet! For people who eat a standard Western diet, coffee may actually be the healthiest aspect of the diet. That’s because coffee contains a massive amount of antioxidants. In fact, studies show that most people get more antioxidants from coffee than both fruits and vegetables… combined!

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