The simple act of drinking coffee frequently comes under attack as being harmful to your health. While that may still be true for a few people with certain medical conditions, more recent studies have shown that there are indeed a number of health benefits to starting your day with the proverbial cup of Joe. Here are just a few reasons why you may want to take up or continue moderate coffee drinking.
Coffee drinking is good for your skin
Coffee consumption has been found to substantially reduce the risk of basal cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer. Caffeine from other sources does not have the same beneficial effect as caffeinated coffee and drinking decaf does not reduce the risk. To get this benefit, the caffeine has to come from coffee.
Protects against heart failure
A recent study of 142,220 people showed that those who drink two eight-ounce cups of coffee a day decrease their risk of heart failure. Researchers are not sure why coffee has this beneficial effect, but believe it may have a relationship with other known benefits of coffee drinking: decreased risk of both diabetes and high blood pressure. The study did not evaluate the strength of the brewed coffee or whether it was caffeinated or decaffeinated.
It lowers your risk of Type-2 diabetes
More than one study confirms that coffee drinking lowers the risk of contracting Type-2 diabetes. A compound found in coffee blocks the formation of a certain substance in the body that is linked to the development of diabetes.
It protects against high blood pressure
An interesting aspect of coffee drinking and high blood pressure has been noted in that light coffee drinking seems to increase blood pressure. Drinking at last two cups a day reduces the risk of developing high blood pressure.
Coffee helps retain brain function and prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
A 21-year study of nearly 1,500 people discovered that moderate coffee drinking, determined to be three to five cups a day, decreases the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease by 65 percent. A group of tea drinkers was compared to coffee drinkers and drinking tea with caffeine provided no protection from the two diseases. Future studies are planned in the hope of using coffee drinking to prevent, or at least slow, the loss of cognitive functioning associated with aging. Having that home espresso maker adds health benefits after all.
It speeds recovery after surgery
Anyone who has ever had surgery knows the combination of anesthesia and surgery can cause constipation. Surgeons urge post-surgical patients to drink a lot of water in order to restore normal bowel function as quickly as possible. New information shows that drinking coffee is better than drinking water in speeding the return to normal bowel function after surgery.
Coffee drinking may have a positive effect on those suffering from Parkinson’s
A 2012 study indicates that moderate coffee drinking can decrease the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. Those who have the disease have found their spastic movements are lessened with coffee drinking. More studies are planned that will include more people in the study, but this study is encouraging.
Coffee drinking is good for your liver
A 22-year study of more than 125,000 people verified that drinking at least one cup of coffee a day helps prevent cirrhosis of the liver. Tea drinkers did not have the same beneficial result on cirrhosis prevention, indicating that it is not the caffeine in the coffee that is responsible, but some other compound. Drinking more cups a day provides greater liver function protection. Drinking at least four cups a day decreases the risk of developing fatty liver disease. Interestingly, tea with caffeine does have the same result on fatty liver disease as coffee does.
It improves athletic performance
Drinking coffee increases the production of fatty acids in the blood stream which increases the endurance for various sports. The body uses the fatty acids for energy prior to using stored carbohydrates. Bicyclists can pedal longer and runners can run longer before tiring out. Under the rules of the International Olympic Committee, caffeine is considered a legal drug. As a result, urine samples of Olympic athletes show that more than two-thirds of them drink coffee just prior to their competition.
