Coffee, Good For Health?

Whether you are cradling a travel mug on your way to work or dashing out after spin class to refuel with a skinny latte, it is hard to imagine a day without it.

The caffeine perks you up, and there’s something incredibly soothing about sipping a steaming cup of joe. But is drinking coffee good for you?

The coffee case is stronger than ever. Study after study indicates you could be getting more from your favorite morning beverage than you thought: Coffee is chock full of substances that may help guard against conditions more common in women, including Alzheimer’s disease and heart disease.

Caffeine is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about coffee. But coffee also contains antioxidants and other active substances that may reduce internal inflammation and protect against disease, say nutrition experts from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Benefits Of Drinking Coffee

Your brew gives you benefits beyond an energy boost. Here are the top ways coffee can positively impact your health:

Longevity
Recent 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.

The Body May Process Glucose (Or Sugar) Better
That is the theory behind studies that found that people who drink more coffee are less likely to get type 2 diabetes.

Eliminates Risk Of 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.

Lowers Risk Of 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.

You Will Enjoy Good Liver Health
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.

Stronger DNA
Dark roast coffee decreases breakage in DNA strands, which occur naturally but can lead to cancer or tumors if not repaired by your cells.

Reduce Colon Cancer Risk
One in 23 women develop colon cancer. However, researchers found that coffee drinkers – decaf or regular – were 26 percent less likely to develop colorectal cancer.

Decrease Risk Of Alzheimer’s Disease
Almost two-thirds of Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease are women. However, the caffeine in two cups of coffee may provide significant protection against developing the condition. Researchers found that women aged 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 lower stroke risk, which is the fourth leading cause of death in women.