A fresh pot of coffee brewing certainly wakes me up in the morning, but what else can it do? There are 5 proven health benefits to drinking coffee besides keeping you alert and giving you the extra boost in energy. If you’re an avid coffee drinker, multiple studies show a positive correlation between health benefits and drinking 3-4 cups of coffee a day. However, it is important to note a healthy diet and lifestyle is still the the key component.
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Medical News Today: “Study links coffee intake with reduce risk of endometrial cancer.”
Medical News Today: “Coffee consumption linked with reduced melanoma risk.”
American Diabetes Association: “Coffee, caffeine, and risk of type 2 diabetes.”
WebMD: “Even decaf coffee may help the liver.”
“Drinking Coffee May Delay Alzheimer’s Disease.”
“Does Caffeine in Coffee Perk Up Heart Health.”
1. Fights Cancer
A recent study published in the Journal of Cancer Epidemiology, found drinking three to four cups of coffee a day reduces the risk of endometrial cancer by a fifth. Endometrial cancer is one of the most common cancer of the reproductive organs and is prevalent among women over the age of 45. Evidence does suggest a link between higher coffee intake and lower risk of endometrial cancer by up to 19%. In addition, drinking four cups of coffee also reduces risk of malignant melanoma by 20%.
2. Lower Diabetes Risk
Coffee has a a lot of antioxidants and bio active compounds that are important to glucose metabolism. The same active ingredients are found in decaffeinated coffee, so it’s not the caffeine. Over 20 years of research from Harvard indicated coffee consumption has a positive short-term and long term effect on health. Increasing coffee consumption to more than 8 ounces a day in a four year period can lower the risk of Type 2 diabetes by 11%.
3. May Help the Liver
A study led by Dr. Qian Xia of the U.S. National Cancer Institute, analyzed coffee consumption data from 28,000 American aged 20 years and older confirm previous findings. Research suggest that coffee may help lower non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Those who regularly drank three or more cups of coffee, even decaffeinated coffee, show lower level of enzymes in their blood tests. This proves a link between coffee and better liver health.
4. Delay Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
Alzheimer’s disease is found among older adults who show difficulties in retaining memory. Findings in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease indicate that those who had higher blood levels of caffeine delayed the onset of Alzheimer’s by two to four years later. The study included 124 participants aged 65 to 88 with mild memory loss. Subjects who showed no progression in memory loss all had caffeine blood levels equivalent to 3 cups of coffee daily. Since there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, researcher Chuanhai Cao suggest there maybe reason to start a coffee regimen in their late 30’s as a preventative measure.
5. Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke
According to the American Hearth Association, caffeinated coffee consumption increases the blood flow by 30% compared to decaf coffee. This means caffeinated coffee can reduce the strain on your heart because your small blood vessels can now flow with ease. Researchers have even found larger consumption of caffeine may improve larger arteries as well. Dr. Gordon, chief of cardiology at John Hopkins University School of Medicine, acknowledges the association between coffee drinking and lower risk of heart attack, heart disease, and stroke.
