Making Coffee Part of your Day for a Healthy Life

The debate over the health impact of coffee seems like it will go on forever. Some factions believe that coffee (or caffeine, in particular) has no positive health impact, whereas the other camp believes that coffee is good for your health and that it comes with several benefits.

In trying to debunk the theories, several studies have been conducted, and most of them have confirmed that coffee beans are quite good for us. In fact, these studies also point out that consuming coffee on a daily basis comes with several health benefits. This article will illustrate the health benefits of caffeine from your favorite cup o’ joe.

 

Reduced risk of early death

 

A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine involving over 185,000 people concluded that coffee — whether caffeinated or decaf –was associated with a reduced risk of early death. The test subjects for this study were tracked for several years, and their habits were followed closely.

While the outcome surprised many, it’s reasonable to draw the conclusion that coffee cannot be used solely as a means to live a longer life, but rather, it is good to incorporate it into your diet. The recommended amount of caffeine per day is three to five cups. That comes out to about 400mg of  caffeine per day.

 

Boosting liver health and preventing cancer

 

As one of the most popular beverages in the world, it’s exciting to learn that coffee beans can help promote liver health and prevent cancer. But the benefits don’t stop there.

Caffeine drinkers — whether green tea or coffee — also have a lower risk of stroke, diabetes, heart disease, kidney and respiratory diseases.

A study of over a half million people from 10 European nations looked into the relationship between nutrition and caffeine and determined that organic beans, in particular, are great for your health. These beans helped reduce the risk of early death from digestive and circulatory problems.

Organic coffee brands are also free of synthetic pesticides. That means they’re not only high in nutritional quality, but they’re also safe for farmers to be handling, since they won’t be exposed to toxins.

 

Consistencies in Coffee Benefits

 

In both of the previously mentioned studies, there were a few factors that ultimately did not affect the health benefits of coffee: Among them were location and the amount of caffeine.

 

Location

 

Even though different people in different locations prefer to prepare their beans in their distinct way, due to the difference in lifestyles, the studies found that the health benefits of coffee did not change. This tells us that the process of preparing your ground beans does not matter. So enjoy your freedom, and take your coffee the way you enjoy it the most!

 

Amount of caffeine

 

Both of the studies did not establish any variant in health implications when looking at the amounts of caffeine consumed. One interesting conclusion from both studies was that it was difficult to establish which chemical component in coffee beans provides health benefits, since coffee beans have so many different components. However, in terms of caffeine consumption, it is pretty clearly established that you should try to avoid consuming more than 400mg of caffeine on a daily basis, but the amount your body can handle greatly depends on a number of personal factors.

 

Limiting factors

 

The studies found that in spite of some health benefits, there are number of limiting factors that can interfere or make the effects of caffeine in your body limited.

 

Association with other habits

 

The studies observed that drinking coffee is a complex behavior. One example of this is that most people who smoke tend to be consume a lot of coffee. Obviously, reaping the benefits of caffeine doesn’t ‘cancel out’ smoking, so some of the statistics are affected by this.

 

Adding in “Extras’

 

While some people prefer drinking ‘black’ coffee, many others prefer to add things like sugar, milk, cream, and various sugary syrups. must add sugar. It should be quite clear that all of these little ‘extras’ you put in coffee (particularly sugar and cream) contain unhealthy fats and calories, so if you want to reap the benefits of coffee, try to keep your coffee on the simple side.

 

Note to Abstainers!

 

Even with these findings, if you don’t fancy a cup of coffee, you don’t need to change your lifestyle or stress about the need to start consuming caffeine.

For a long time (and sometimes even today), most things in the health field were all about ‘dos and don’ts.’. But with coffee, it seems that the trend is moving differently. You are encouraged to have another cup if you want it.

There are number of health benefits to coffee and other caffeinated beverages, but Just remember: moderation is everything.

 

About Greg Haver:  Hey there, my name is Greg and I’m the creator and editor of Coffee or Bust. I’ve been in the coffee business for over a decade, and my goal is to help you make the best cup of coffee with recommended tips, tools, and tricks!