You may love coffee. But, what’s the toll on your health?
Attention coffee lovers: Not only is there a growing body of research that suggests it’s safe to drink coffee, it appears that doing so may even lead to some health perks. CBSnews.com recently reported the following:
- Moderate coffee drinking (e.g., less than five cups per day) has been linked to a decreased risk of death from such chronic illnesses as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and neurological diseases. A study from T. H. Chan School of Public Health found protective effects in both regular and decaf coffee.
- About three cups of coffee each day may help protect older adults experiencing memory declines from Alzheimer’s. Coffee consumption may actually help slow the progression of mild cognitive impairment, which can lead to Alzheimer’s.
- Coffee consumption may help reduce the risk of malignant melanoma. A 2015 study showed that drinking four or more cups per day could lead to a 20 percent lower risk. Decaf coffee did not appear to provide the same protection.
- While caffeine has been linked to increased blood pressure, long-term studies have found no link between regular coffee consumption and high blood pressure. (That said, it may be prudent for high-risk individuals to switch to decaf.)
- Coffee beans contain cafestol, a cholesterol-raising compound. However, drinking coffee that’s passed through a paper filter will contain only a negligible amount of cafestol. (Coffee prepared via the French press method contain higher levels of cafestol.)
- Preliminary studies have shown that habitual consumption of coffee is linked to lower risk for depression, at least among women.
- Studies have shown that men who regularly consume a lot of coffee have a lower risk for Parkinson’s. Research suggests that caffeine has a similar positive effect on women who do not use estrogen-replacement therapy.
- Although there is no strong explanation, there is evidence that coffee can lower the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer.
- Regular coffee (both regular and decaf) consumption has been linked to a lower-than-average risk for type 2 diabetes. Researchers believe this may be due to a compound found in coffee, such as chlorogenic acid, trigonelline or ligans.
- Recent studies suggest that high consumption of coffee (both regular and decaf) can reduce the risk of gout, a painful condition in which crystals of uric acid accumulate in the joints. Coffee may reduce the level of uric acid in the bloodstream. Coffee may also reduce the risk of insulin resistance, which precedes diabetes and is considered a risk factor for gout.
It’s important to remember that health benefits do not justify indulging in high-calorie, sugary coffee drinks. And doctors are still agreed that pregnant women should avoid coffee or at least greatly reduce their intake, as caffeine can lead to miscarriage or low birth rate.
Source: CBSnews.com, “Coffee and Your Health: Latest Findings.”