Coffee has been a topic of conversation in the health world for decades. Since the World Health Organization removed the substance from its list of possible carcinogens in 2016, a number of health-related benefits from drinking coffee have emerged from studies.
Largely independent of whether it’s caffeinated or decaffeinated, or how it’s made, your daily cup(s) of coffee can give you several key health benefits.
6 Benefits of Drinking Coffee Daily
1. Fortifies Heart Health
Coffee has been found to lower risk of cardiovascular disease and strokes. In fact, moderate coffee consumption shows an inverse relationship with cardiovascular disease. Research shows that these heart-fortifying benefits are maximized at 3 to 5 cups per day.
2. Increases Life Expectancy
Drinking coffee is associated with a decreased risk of dying from all causes. According to JAMA, these findings “provide further reassurance that coffee drinking can be a part of a healthy diet.” The association between coffee and lower risk of developing serious illnesses lent support to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee’s 2015 determination that drinking up to 5 eight-ounce cups of coffee per day can be a part of a healthy diet.
3. Protects You Against Type 2 Diabetes
Several key studies link a daily coffee habit to a lower risk of Type 2 Diabetes. For example, Nurses’ Health Study II found that people’s risk of Type 2 Diabetes decreased based on how many cups of coffee they consumed each day. Someone who drank 1 cup per day was 13% less likely to develop the disease than a non-coffee drinker, and the risk factor for someone who drank 4 or more cups per day was nearly cut in half. Interestingly, this was true for both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, and indifferent to style of brewing (filtered vs instant). Tea consumption was not found to have the same effects.
4. Strengthens Liver Health
Drinking coffee seems to promote healthy liver enzyme levels and can help improve chronic liver disease. In a study reported in the British Journal of Cancer, the death rate from hepatocellular carcinoma (the most common form of liver cancer) was less than half for daily coffee drinkers compared to non-coffee drinkers. Additionally, a regular coffee habit has also shown to have positive effects on liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.
5. Rich in Antioxidants
As a leading worldwide beverage, coffee is also one of the top sources of antioxidants in many people’s diets. The phytochemicals and polyphenols found in coffee may help lower risk for some cancers, as well as heart disease, diabetes, and chronic diseases.
6. Strengthens Mental Acuity in Old Age
Drinking two cups of coffee each day may help protect people against developing Alzheimer’s Disease as they age, research suggests. Furthermore, research found that women age 65 and older who drank 2 or 3 cups a day were less likely to develop dementia in general.
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