If you’re a coffee lover like me, you’ll be happy to know that drinking coffee isn’t just about getting a quick energy boost.
My wife often teases me about how much coffee I drink. But recently, I came across an article in a health magazine about the latest research on coffee and its health benefits. This inspired me to do some research of my own and talk to experts to learn more.
What I found was amazing! Drinking coffee has several proven health benefits, and I’m excited to share them with you.
Coffee and its benefits
Over the past few decades, more than 18,000 studies have been done on coffee. Many researchers agree that the right amount of coffee can vary from person to person, but most of the benefits come from drinking 2-4 cups a day.
In fact, 2-4 cups is the average amount consumed by most people in the u.S., according to joe vinson, ph.D., a coffee expert at the university of scranton. Studies have shown that this amount can have several positive effects on your mental health, heart health, liver, weight, and even diabetes.
Health benefits of drinking coffee
Here are some of the proven health benefits of coffee, based on real studies:
1. Boost brain power and memory
Drinking 2-4 cups of coffee a day can improve your memory and help you stay focused. Coffee contains antioxidants that protect brain cells, and it may reduce the risk of brain diseases like alzheimer’s, parkinson’s, and dementia. Just remember not to drink coffee for at least 3 hours before bedtime.
2. Prevent type 2 diabetes
Studies from harvard university show that drinking coffee regularly can lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Coffee’s antioxidants help the body use insulin more effectively, which helps control blood sugar levels.
3. Protect your heart
Drinking 2-4 cups of coffee a day can also reduce the risk of heart disease. A japanese study involving 79,000 people found that drinking 2-3 cups of coffee daily lowered the risk of heart disease by 39%.
4. Help burn fat
Caffeine is a common ingredient in fat-burning supplements for a good reason—it can help your body burn fat. However, drinking more than 4 cups of coffee a day may reduce this effect.
5. Reduce the risk of liver diseases
Recent studies in italy show that coffee can lower the risk of liver cancer by more than 43%. Regular coffee drinkers also have a lower risk of liver diseases like cirrhosis. In fact, a 2014 study in the journal hepatology found that drinking 2-4 cups of coffee daily can reduce the risk of death from liver disease by 67%.
Conclusion
Drinking 2-4 cups of coffee a day can offer some great health benefits. However, if you have high blood pressure, anxiety, or an overactive thyroid, you should limit your caffeine intake.
While coffee might help with weight control or slightly increase fat burning, it’s not a miracle weight loss solution.
Caffeine is also found in many other drinks and foods like tea, energy drinks, colas, chocolate, and some medications, so be mindful of your total caffeine intake.