Bruce Abrahamse

Bruce Abrahamse

October 30, 2024

Drinking Coffee May Help Prevent These Diseases

Almost everyone enjoys an invigorating cup of coffee in the morning. However, drinking too much caffeine can be bad for your health. Yet, it has also been proven that drinking coffee in moderation actually has several benefits. These benefits include improving heart and brain health, and may potentially even help in the prevention of mental disease. In the article below, we will explore several health benefits of drinking coffee.

The Health Benefits of Drinking Coffee

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For starters, coffee provides various nutrients that are good for your general health. A standard eight-ounce cup of coffee contains trace levels of B vitamins (pantothenic acid, riboflavin, thiamine, and niacin), in addition to minerals such as manganese, potassium, and magnesium. When drunk in large quantities, the nutrients in coffee can make a considerable contribution to your daily requirements. It’s also very high in antioxidants. In fact, many people, especially those who live in the West, will likely consume more antioxidants from their coffee than from fruits and vegetables.

The Effects of Caffeine on the Body

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Arguably, the most popular potential advantage of drinking coffee is its power to increase one’s energy and mental acuity, particularly in the morning or during that afternoon slump. This is mostly due to caffeine, the natural stimulant present in coffee that suppresses the brain’s inhibitory neurotransmitter adenosine, which usually promotes sleep while suppressing alertness. This causes improved neuronal firing and the production of neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine and dopamine, which help improve response time, mood, and cognitive performance. However, since coffee is often consumed in social situations, researchers still need to figure out how much of the nerve firing is strictly from caffeine and how much is from social interaction. 

The Effects of Drinking Coffee on Chronic Diseases

coffee beans
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Drinking coffee in moderate amounts can help lower your risk of developing several chronic conditions. These include cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, liver disease, cancer, and neurogenerative diseases. Let’s take a look at these various diseases in more detail.

Cardiovascular Diseases

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Drinking coffee moderately is linked to a lower risk of heart disease and strokes. [1] Research suggests that consuming a couple of cups of coffee per day may reduce the risk of heart failure. Additionally, drinking coffee has been associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular death and illness. Surprisingly, even when somebody has irregular cardiac rhythms, coffee is not damaging, according to recent studies.

Type 2 Diabetes

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According to the Mayo Clinic, consuming coffee moderately can also be beneficial to those who suffer from type 2 diabetes. [2] Coffee may help the body digest glucose, lowering the likelihood of later developing type 2 diabetes. Recent research has indicated that individuals who drink more coffee are less likely to eventually develop type 2 diabetes.

Liver Disease

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Believe it or not, it seems that coffee even protects the liver. [3] Both regular and decaffeinated coffee have been linked to improved liver enzyme levels, and those who drink coffee have a significantly decreased risk of developing liver cirrhosis and cancer. 

Cancer

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Coffee drinking has also been associated with a lower risk of various different forms of cancer, including womb and colorectal cancers. According to a comprehensive study, drinking a lot of coffee reduces your risk of developing cancer by as much as 18%. Another great reason to brew a cuppa joe right now!

Neurodegenerative Diseases

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Drinking caffeine is also linked to a decreased chance of getting Parkinson’s disease later in life. It may help individuals with the condition control their movements with greater success. Furthermore, drinking coffee may also lower your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease as well as other kinds of dementia.

Drinking Coffee and Mental Health

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Not only does coffee consumption have physical benefits, but has also been shown to have mental health benefits. According to studies, people who drink coffee are less likely to develop depression, with a few studies indicating a 20% reduction in risk. Additionally, studies have also linked drinking coffee to a lower risk of committing suicide. According to study findings, individuals who consume four or more cups of coffee per day are 53% less likely to commit suicide.

Extended Lifespan

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Considering all of the above health benefits, we shouldn’t find it too surprising that studies have shown that people who drink coffee live longer than those who don’t. One study that involved 400,000 participants revealed that drinking four to five cups of coffee per day over a 12 to 13-year period was linked to a lower death risk. This could possibly be the result of coffee’s cumulative protective effects. 

The Bottom Line on Drinking Coffee

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While coffee has many health advantages, it is important to drink it in moderation. It is also advised to avoid adding too much sugar and creams so that you don’t end up consuming unnecessary calories. Drinking too much coffee can result in feeling anxious, jittery, and unable to sleep. If you are particularly sensitive to caffeine, then it may not be the ideal choice for you personally. 

Sources

  1. Moderate coffee consumption is associated with lower risk of developing multiple cardiometabolic diseases.” Endocrine. September 17, 2024
  2. Caffeine: Does it affect blood sugar?Mayo Clinic
  3. Coffee: The magical bean for liver diseases.” NCBI. Ryan D Heath, Mihir Brahmbhatt, Asli C Tahan, Jamal A Ibdah and Veysel Tahan. May 2017.