One of the most popular beverages in the world, taken in moderation at 3 to 5 cups daily, coffee seems to be good for most people. Just the right amount can improve your mood. Too much may make you feel anxious and jittery. And of course, the quality of coffee you consume determines its benefits. Here are some ways that coffee can positively impact your health:
Live longer. Studies found that coffee drinkers are less likely to die from some of the leading causes of death in women: coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease.
Body may process glucose better. That’s the theory behind studies that found that people who drink more coffee are less likely to get type 2 diabetes.
Less likely to develop heart failure. Drinking one to two cups of coffee a day may help ward off heart failure, when a weakened heart has difficulty pumping enough blood to the body.
Less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease. Caffeine is not only linked to a lower chance of developing Parkinson’s disease, but it may also help those with the condition better control their movements.
Your liver will thank you. Both regular and decaf coffee seem to have a protective effect on your liver.
Research shows that coffee drinkers are more likely to have liver enzyme levels within a healthy range than people who don’t drink coffee.
DNA will be stronger. Dark roast coffee decreases breakage in DNA strands, which occur naturally but can lead to cancer or tumors if not repaired by your cells.
Odds of getting colon cancer go way down. One in 23 women develop colon cancer. But researchers found that coffee drinkers — decaf or regular — were 26% less likely to develop colorectal cancer.
Decreases risk of getting Alzheimer’s. Caffeine in two cups of coffee may provide significant protection against developing the Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, researchers found that women age 65 and older who drank two to three cups of coffee a day were less likely to develop dementia in general.
Unlikely to suffer a stroke. For women, drinking at least one cup of coffee a day is associated with lowered stroke risk, which is the fourth leading cause of female deaths.
