As I mentioned in part 1 of this article, I love coffee. On a cold day, it seems to warm my soul, and on the rare occasion, I have time to camp, a pot of coffee made over an open fire may be the greatest invention mankind has ever bestowed upon this earth. I’m often having coffee with a friend at a local coffee shop, and making a pot is the first thing I do every morning before I turn on my computer to begin work.

I also mentioned that this delicious beverage has a myriad of health benefits. It not only provides an energy boost but also helps the body burn fat and improve performance both physically and mentally. Coffee is also loaded with nutrients such as vitamins B12, B5, B3, Potassium, and Magnesium. Coffee has been associated with a decreased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and Parkinson’s and may also protect against the development of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

In part 2 of this article, we’ll dive into a few more of the health benefits of coffee.

May protect your liver – The liver is an organ with many essential functions, including
breaking down and creating nutrients and metabolizing fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. In addition, the liver also metabolizes drugs to be more easily used by the body and stores glycogen and vitamins and minerals, among many other things. When the liver is not functioning properly, it can lead to a serious condition called cirrhosis, where healthy tissue is replaced by scar tissue. Studies have shown that people who drink four or more cups per day have up to an 80% lower risk of developing cirrhosis.

Helps Fight Depression – Depression is a serious psychological disorder that can significantly reduce the quality of a person’s life. It is estimated that in 2019 that approximately 19.4 million adults had at least one major depressive episode. Symptoms may include sadness, feelings of hopelessness, disturbances in sleep, loss of interest in normal activities, and suicidal thoughts, among others.
Some studies suggest that people who drank four or more cups of coffee per day had up to 20% lower risk of becoming depressed, and there was a significantly lower rate of suicide in those people that were diagnosed with depression.

May Lower Risk of Certain Types of Cancer – Cancer is one of the world’s leading causes of death and is characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in your body. Research suggests that coffee may protect against liver and colorectal cancers, among others. Studies suggest that people who regularly drink coffee may have up to a 40% lower risk of developing liver cancer and up to 15% lower risk of developing colorectal cancer.
May Lower Stroke Risk – While drinking coffee may cause a very slight, temporary increase in blood pressure, coffee drinkers do not have an increased risk of developing heart disease. In fact, research suggests that coffee may actually be associated with a small decrease in risk for stroke.

May Help You Live Longer – Since there is a preponderance of evidence that coffee is nutritious and helps prevent many diseases, it is very likely that regular coffee drinkers actually live longer. Some long-term studies suggest that regular coffee consumption was associated with a 20-26% reduced risk of death and that people with Type 2 diabetes had up to a 30% reduced risk of death.

The bottom line is that coffee while being delicious and good for the soul, is also super healthy. It is a terrific source of vitamins and minerals and is one of the biggest sources of antioxidants for those people living in the Western world. It protects against many diseases such as dementia and cancer and has been associated with a reduced risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. So don’t be afraid to enjoy coffee in moderation. Most people that drink up to 4 cups a day have no negative issues and, in fact, maybe doing themselves a favor.