The Amazing Health Benefits of Coffee

I enjoy my morning coffee. And my mid-morning coffee. And my afternoon coffee. I jokingly call coffee my only “guilty pleasure,” but should I really feel guilty at all?

I’ve heard rumors that coffee might actually be a good for us, so I did a little research on the health benefits of coffee — if for no other reason than to justify my consumption!

The Surprising Health Benefits of Coffee

The first article I found convinced me that my 2-3 cups a day are not only ok, but that I’m practically enjoying a miracle tonic! I should drink more!

According to this WebMd article, studies have shown that coffee lowers your risk of seven diseases and major health-related problems!

Drinking coffee regularly may lower your risk of:

• Type 2 Diabetes
• Heart Disease
• Stroke
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Alzheimer’s
• Dementia
• Liver Cancer

Why? The link between coffee consumption and lower risks of certain diseases isn’t 100% clear, but is likely due to the high level of antioxidants it contains. Caffeine may also be a contributing factor.

What is an antioxidant?

To put it very simply, an antioxidant is a molecule that can prevent the creation of dreaded “free radicals,” another type of molecule which can damage or kill healthy cells in the body. Thanks Wikipedia!

I do want to point out that I’m talking about straight-up black coffee (or Nespresso as is my favorite). Once you start adding sugar, syrups, cream, etc. you’ve got more of a dessert on your hands.

Also, if you’re pregnant you’ll want to limit your caffeine intake, no matter the source. Most doctors will tell you a cup or two a day is just fine (I know it definitely helped me with my extreme fatigue), but check with your personal physician to be sure.

I’m glad I did a little research — what a surprise to see that coffee could actually have that many good qualities! It was really all the convincing I needed! Legitimate scientific studies have proven that there are indeed health benefits of coffee drinking. So raise a glass, or mug— to your health!

For more coffee facts, recipes, and more, follow my All Things Coffee Board on Pinterest:

 

Last updated on November 29th, 2016 at 08:21 am

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