If you have ever wondered whether coffee is good for you, bad for you...or somewhere in between, you're in for a treat.
The truth is, coffee benefits your health in many different ways.
In fact, recent research shows that drinking coffee can even extend your life.
Whether you drink it as part of a healthy diet, or as a means to cure or protect yourself from major diseases, look no further than your morning brew.
Honestly, if coffee were discovered to day for the first time, it would be acclaimed as the ultimate health beverage.
Coffee helps burn off fat.
Trying to lose weight? Coffee has been shown to help reduce your body fat.
Coffee is a major source of antioxidants.
In fact, coffee is the #1 source of antioxidants in the diet of North Americans.
Coffee is a major source of fiber.
I know, it sounds weird, but coffee is a great source of dietary fiber.
Coffee contains almost no calories.
If you drink your coffee black, it contains very, very few calories.
Coffee contains zero carbohydrates.
If you are on a low-carb diet, start the day with a zero-carb cup of black coffee.
Coffee is a neural stimulant.
Science confirms what we already know - coffee makes us think faster and more clearly.
Coffee reduces muscle pain.
Drink coffee before working out and say goodbye to muscle pain.
Want to learn more? Here some additional information on the health benefits of drinking coffee...
Why has there ever been resistance to the idea that coffee benefits your health?
Almost thirty years ago researchers at Harvard University announced a connection between coffee consumption and cancer.
A few years later they retracted the study and recognized that the findings were flawed.
However, since that first study and the media frenzy that followed, coffee has been labeled with the stigma of being unhealthy.
In fact, nothing could be further from the truth.
Coffee Health Risks: For the moderate drinker, coffee is safe says Harvard Women’s Health Watch.
Despite 20 years of reassuring research, many people still avoid caffeinated coffee because they worry about its health effects. However, current research reveals that in moderation—a few cups a day—coffee is a safe beverage that may even offer some health benefits.
The latest research has not only confirmed that moderate coffee consumption doesn't cause harm, it's also uncovered possible benefits. Coffee may reduce the risk of developing gallstones, discourage the development of colon cancer, improve cognitive function, reduce the risk of liver damage in people at high risk for liver disease, and reduce the risk of Parkinson's disease. Coffee has also been shown to improve endurance performance in long-duration physical activities.
Source: Harvard Health Publications, Harvard Medical School, 2006.
And they say there are no coffee benefits when it comes to health?
There is a great deal of research that shows drinking a few cups of coffee a day can be good for you. It not only protects you against a variety of serious diseases, but can also bring a lot of pleasure into your life.
Coffee not only tastes good, perks us up and sharpens our minds...but it also protects us against some of the most feared of today’s diseases.
Questions about coffee and health, asked and answered:
More about coffee and your health...
Ready to enjoy the health benefits of some gourmet coffee?
We'll also give you some tips on how to make coffee.
About the author: Nick Usborne, aka Coffee Detective, is a writer and long-time coffee enthusiast. Read more…