A good cup of coffee in the morning is an experience many people regard as sacred. For the greater part of this century, coffee has been synonymous with fresh beginnings, concentration and conversation starters. It is the proverbial glue that connects and keeps people together. Despite the controversies surrounding its health benefits or rather, the supposed lack thereof, people have remained loyal to the drink.
Fortunately though, coffee lovers will be happy to know that according to the most recent research, a cup of coffee a day may actually have some positive effects on the body.
Should we drink coffee everyday?
Absolutely yes. There are multiple studies which show that regular coffee drinkers have a lower risk of developing chronic illnesses such as diabetes and atherosclerosis which affects the heart. Drinking coffee is however not a prevention for any sort of illness, but daily consumption thereof certainly does not cause any illnesses. As with most things in life, coffee should be consumed in moderation, with a recommended intake of 2-4 cups per day. Recent studies also found no significant link between the caffeine in coffee and heart-related issues such as high cholesterol, irregular heartbeats, strokes or heart attacks.
In a separate, larger study involving a multitude of people, researchers discovered that people who drank several cups a day—anywhere from two to four cups—actually had a lower risk of a stroke. Healthcare professionals say the benefits may be derived from the effect of coffee on the blood vessels; by keeping it flexible and healthy, it may reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, which can cause heart attacks.
Coffee is also high in antioxidants, which are known to fight the oxidative damage that can cause cancer. This may explain why some studies have found a lower risk of liver cancer among coffee drinkers.
Coffee may even help you live longer. A study involving more than 208,000 men and women found that people who drank coffee regularly were less likely to die prematurely than those who didn’t drink coffee. Researchers believe that some of the chemicals in coffee may help reduce inflammation, which has been found to play a role in a number of aging-related health problems, including dementia and Alzheimer’s. Some evidence also suggests that coffee may slow down some of the metabolic processes that drive aging.
There are also several social studies that confirm coffee drinkers are more confident and positive about themselves and their bodies. Body positivity is a movement that is dedicated to the acceptance of oneself regardless of our flaws.
Is coffee bad for you?
All things considered, coffee could become bad for you once you are reliant on it and are thus unable to function without it. Although many people joke about this, caffeine addiction is real. The symptoms include headaches, irritability and fatigue – it can mimic those of people recovering from addictive drugs. The question of whether coffee is good or bad for you is thus determined by whether or not you are consuming the drink for enjoyment. Once you rely on coffee to function properly then it is no longer good for you.
How much coffee is safe to consume daily?
According to a recent medical article on the effects of healthy consumption of coffee, it has been suggested that the recommended daily intake of caffeine should be 400mg a day to avoid adverse health effects. This amounts to approximately 2 cups of coffee per day.
Sticking to the 2 cup a day limit may prove difficult for avid coffee lovers, and it may be beneficial to investigate whether there are certain types of coffee that are more or less healthy to consume.
