As a beverage, coffee has become the most popular drink in the world. Its stimulating effects have become one of its main selling points along with the rich aroma and distinct flavor that comes with every cup. Many people may not know it, but drinking coffee may bring with it some added health benefits. Here are just some of them.

Some studies have shown that coffee can help in the fight against some cancers. Researchers have found that coffee may have some anti-cancer properties. This gave evidence to studies that show coffee drinkers having a 50 percent lesser chance of developing liver cancer as compared to non-coffee drinkers. There are also some studies that suggest the beneficial effects of coffee in the lower rates of breast, colon, and rectal cancers in coffee drinkers.

There are also some new studies suggesting that coffee drinking may not lead to people suffering from high blood pressure over time. Although some studies have also shown that coffee may increase blood pressure in people already suffering from the common ailment, it hasn’t been exactly pinpointed as the cause of the development of high blood pressure in people with normal blood pressure. At this point, the influence of coffee in the cardiovascular effects in the body may require some more intensive study and research.

Coffee drinking is also linked in some way to the development of diabetes. Some studies have shown that heavy coffee drinkers may have a 50 percent less chance of developing diabetes compared to light coffee drinkers. Coffee actually contains substances that help lower blood sugar and can also help in increasing one’s resting metabolism rate when taken regularly. This helps keep the development of diabetes at bay.

Some Benefits of Coffee:

  • Antioxidant Rich - coffee, due to its high caffeine content, is a great source of antioxidants. Antioxidants are cancer preventative and help fight the negative affects of aging.
  • Magnesium Rich - unfortunately studies have proven that many American’s are magnesium deficient, a mineral necessary to many of the enzymes in your body in order to catalyze reactions.
  • Anti Bacterial and Anti Adhesive Qualities - believe it or not, Italian researchers discovered this interesting little fact as they were conducting experiments regarding their favorite national drink that was getting a bad rep by health researchers (”them”). Practically speaking, this means that coffee is proven to prevent cavities (provided you don’t dump an ocean of sugar into your drink).
  • Promotes Digestion - because coffee is a diuretic, it generally speaking, sends people straight to the bathroom. When I was doing my research for IBS articles, although some doctors claimed coffee may irritate the stomach, other doctors recommended it as one of the natural tricks to “help move things along” and prescribed drinking a cup or two a day.
  • Improves Athletic Endurance and Performance - Believe it or not, coffee has recently been labeled a “controlled” substance for athletes participating in the Olympic Games due to the unfair performance advantages large amounts of the drink provides. Coffee has proven to increase athletic endurance as well as general coordination and performing abilities in serious athletes.
  • Decreases Depression - studies conducted on school age children in Brazil demonstrated that children who drank a cup of coffee before going to school had a much lower instance of depression later in life than those who didn’t drink coffee.
  • Decreases Your Chances of Developing Parkinson’s Disease - 6 separate studies conducted by researchers have proven that people who drink large amounts of coffee on a regular basis are 80% less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease then those that don’t.
  • Decreases Your Risk of Developing Colon Cancer - studies have shown that people who drink 2 cups of coffee on a regular basis have a 25% reduced risk of developing colon cancer.
  • Offsets the Damaging Effects of Smoking - coffee has proven to offset some of the negative side effects of heavy smokers, such as heart disease and liver damage.
  • Treats Asthma and Headaches - asthma and headache medicines contain large doses of caffeine in them due to the substance’s ability to treat their symptoms. The caffeine found in coffee, although present in smaller amounts, has proven to have the same positive affects on alleviating headaches and treating asthma.
  • Reduces Your Risk of Liver Disease - studies have shown that people who drink 2 cups of coffee on a daily basis have an 80% reduced risk rate of developing liver cirrhosis.

Sources: Cofei , Hub Pages

Related Posts