As stated in Harvard Health Publications, it’s a bit strange how something that was once considered potentially dangerous for your health turns out to provide a whole range of health benefits. A great number of studies conducted over the past ten years found that coffee is rich in antioxidants that were protective of human health.
However, when it comes to coffee, moderation is key. Having a cup too many can actually increase your risk of heart disease, insomnia, indigestion, headaches, and early death. So, to get all those health benefits from coffee, make sure to limit your intake to one cup a day.
In case you’ve wondered what health problems coffee was found to keep at bay, here are six examples.
Colorectal cancer
A study that was recently published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention found that moderate coffee consumption reduced the risk of colorectal cancer by 26% when participants drank two cups of coffee a day. This risk was reduced even more when participants drank more cups. This effect of coffee is believed to be due to melanoidins generated through the roasting process and that we know increases colon mobility.
Diterpenes, which are types of antioxidants found in coffee, are also believed to protect the digestive tract from oxidative damage and thus reduce overall cancer risk.
Weight gain
With more than half of US adults being obese or overweight, the search for weight-loss miracles is on the rise. Coffee has recently gained a lot of attention as a weight-loss treatment, mostly due to the metabolism-boosting effect of caffeine found in coffee.
A study published in Nutrition & Diabetes found that coffee consumption retarded weight gain and improved glucose tolerance. But research also found that green coffee bean extract was even more efficient in reducing body weight thanks to compounds called chlorogenic acids that are found only in green coffee beans and that help with weight loss.
Gallstones
One of the many health benefits of drinking water in adequate amounts is gallstone prevention. But now, research shows that coffee consumption is also associated with a reduced risk of gallstones. The main reason for this could be due to coffee’s cholesterol-lowering effect. Increased cholesterol content in the bile production of the liver is one of the reasons why people develop gallstones. Drinking coffee can be said to be a safe measure against gallstones in people who have a genetic predisposition to this common health problem.
Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological condition affecting over 50 million people worldwide. Studies found that coffee drinkers were less likely to suffer be afflicted with the disease, but this effect seems to be limited to men only.
According to a study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, coffee protected men more than women against the disease. A possible explanation for this is that estrogen and caffeine need the same enzyme to be metabolized; and since estrogen captures these enzymes, the beneficial effect of coffee is reduced in women.
Diabetes
According to a systematic review of the numerous studies of coffee’s effect on diabetes risk, greater coffee consumption is strongly associated with a reduced type 2 diabetes risk. This is mostly because coffee contains substances that lower blood glucose levels.
In addition to this, coffee increases the resting metabolic rate, and this could also help in preventing diabetes in susceptible individuals. But despite this, experts still wouldn’t’ recommend coffee as a preventive measure against diabetes because excessive coffee intake poses greater health risks.
Coronary heart disease
Coffee had been previously considered one of the worst drinks for heart health. But today, studies found that moderate coffee intake can protect the heart and blood vessels. A study published in Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care found that coffee was rich in antioxidants that exerted a protective effect on the blood vessels.
However, the same study found that diterpenes in coffee increased the risk of coronary heart disease. In order to get the most benefits from your coffee, make sure to limit your daily intake, especially if heart disease runs in your family.
Conclusion
While we are all familiar with the health benefits of drinking water and taking the green coffee extract, not everyone knows that their daily cup of coffee works wonders on their health as well. Coffee, just like alcohol and chocolate, can both protect and harm your health. The difference lies in the dose, and medical experts advise limiting your intake to a maximum of two cups of coffee daily.
Coffee is rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals that protect human health. But coffee also contains harmful substances. The highly stimulating caffeine in coffee can harm heart health when consumed in excess. Studies on coffee have examined the drink’s role in protecting against the most common health conditions, and most speak in favor of moderate coffee drinking.
