A Coffee a Day Keeps the Doctor Away!

The New Year provides a new air of hope and enthusiasm to most of us, but by this time of the year it’s easy to lose track of the many promises we made to ourselves. We are constantly looking for ways to lose weight, eat healthy, work out more, read more, relax more, enjoy more. We do want to take care of ourselves, yet as soon as we hop on the daily routine, it’s easy to get lost and forget what we promised just a week before.

But, we’ve never really stop to consider that there are some things we can do that actually take zero extra effort. Some of them may be even enjoyable. I mean some of them can actually be tasty. Some you might actually consider doing. You guessed it. COFFEE.

There are actual health benefits of drinking coffee that will give YOU the health boost without actually having to do anything (except drink coffee which is basically a human necessity). There are so many health benefits of drinking coffee that few people know about. Now, that doesn’t mean you should automatically substitute your water intake for coffee. No. But next time you’re feeling guilty about drinking your third cup of coffee at 3:00 pm, just remember, its good for you.

This is because coffee is rich in:

• Caffeine
• Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
• Magnesium
• Plant chemicals: polyphenols including chlorogenic acid and quinic acid, and diterpenes including cafestol and kahweol

"One 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee contains about 95 mg of caffeine. A moderate amount of coffee is generally defined as 3-5 cups a day, or on average 400 mg of caffeine" according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

According to a Harvard health study published in 2017, coffee can actually lower blood pressure, add longevity to your life and reduce your risk of diseases including type 2 diabetes, liver disease, Parkinson's disease, and various types of cancer. These benefits, however, are associated with drinking a moderate amount of coffee (3-4 cups per day). What’s more, in a study published in the US National Library of Medicine showed that black coffee could actually prevent cavities, because it kills the bacteria on teeth that lead to tooth decay. Of course, if you drink your coffee with sugar and milk, this benefit does not apply to you.

More so, a study published by Monash University showed that coffees antioxidant capacities are extremely beneficial. This study showed that a typical serving of coffee contained more antioxidants that the same amount of grape juice, blueberries, raspberries and oranges. So as an antioxidant it can reduce inflammation and increase life expectancy.

So next time you’re into your first cup of joe and already craving the second, don’t worry. It’s actually good for you!

To learn more about Coffee's Health Benefits we recommend these articles:

• Harvard Journal
• Healthline