Now a number of researches have shown that coffee itself has a number of health advantages. The antioxidants in coffee help protect our bodies from diseases such as cancer, heart disease and even from Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. The caffeine itself even has some redeeming qualities aside from keeping us awake. It seems that the stimulating properties of caffeine help our nervous system to become more alert and to create more muscle contractions which athletes can utilize since this increases their strength and endurance. Coffee has been found to also be promising in preventing liver cirrhosis.

But because studies have not yet been fully conclusive and the findings not that specific, scientists are not fully advocating or stating that coffee can be marketed as a health drink. But we all know coffee manufacturers are already marketing their products as an alternative health drink. Nevertheless, studies are pointing in the same direction that coffee is good for you.

And what seems to affirm previous studies is a recent research from a cancer society indicating that the health benefits of coffee can be gender sensitive as well. We know that coffee is good for us but it also seems that the drink has more to offer women. The study shows that women who drink coffee were found to be less at risk from endometrial cancer. This kind of cancer is considered as the most common in women. The cancer cells particularly attack the healthy cells of a women’s reproductive organs.

Whether the coffee is caffeinated or decaf, the effects of the health benefits of coffee still remains on the positive side. Still we should never discount the other factors that can increase the risks levels of having cancer.

However, please do keep in mind that even though coffee is something can make you healthy, drinking too much is never advised. Even if it can prevent cancer, diabetes and even heart problems, too much intake of coffee especially with the hidden components such as sugar, cream, milk, etc. is already considered as a health liability.

Now let’s go back to coffee. According to scientists, coffee contains more healthy antioxidants than fruits, nuts, oils and vegetables. That’s why coffee manufacturers are promoting the antioxidant properties of coffee. Also, they found out that whether the coffee is caffeinated or decaf does not matter. The coffee seems to contain similar levels of antioxidants. So including coffee in one’s diet can actually help protect from heart disease, cancers such as liver and colon cancer, diabetes and even Parkinson’s disease.

Moreover, it seems that caffeine, that stimulant that gives the coffee that what I would like to call the wakeup factor stimulates the brain and nervous system. When applied to children, the caffeine in the coffee adds to their attentiveness in school which should equate to more learning. For athletes, the added stimulation by the caffeine adds to endurance and performance.

However, although more and more studies are pointing to the fact that drinking coffee offers more health benefits than harmful, the key element in this premise is the concept of moderation. Whatever we do, if we do it much more often than necessary, the results may be harmful.

Take for instance the caffeine in coffee. Although the inherent properties would stimulate the nervous system and help us to be more alert and focused, drinking too much coffee can do the total opposite to your nervous system. People have experienced being too wired after drinking too much coffee. They have uncontrolled hand shaking, they become too nervous and they feel their heart beat unusually faster than normal.

Also, even if coffee does offer antioxidants that help us reduce risks of contracting various diseases, the other ingredients in the coffee we drink can balance out the healthy benefits and even increase the risks of having diabetes, for example. This is because of the hidden calories, sugar and fat from the coffee we drink which actually comes from the milk, creamer and sugar or sweeteners we use.

So despite studies nowadays becoming more conclusive on the health benefits of drinking coffee, it still points to the proper amount for it to be beneficial for our health.

We all know that coffee is good for us because of the antioxidants it contains. It helps protect our heart and even our liver from diseases such as cancer. But drinking coffee beyond the recommended or suggested moderation totally negates the benefits. It becomes a health risk. According to experts, two cups of coffee everyday is okay and we can still enjoy the health benefits. However, drinking in excess of two cups daily is unhealthy. For coffee drinkers who drink an average of more than two cups of coffee everyday, they should actively try to reduce their amount of coffee intake as soon as possible.

Aside from the number of cups, there are some signs that can show that you’re drinking too many cups of coffee. You need to observe your habits. If you see that you are actually replacing water with coffee, then that is a pretty good indication that you are having too much coffee. If you have high blood pressure, ulcers or other digestive ailments, if you begin to feel pains in your joints, or if you notice your teeth beginning to yellow, it would be wise to ease up on the coffee for a while. If you cannot stop right away, go with the decaf alternative since this will address the issue of getting too much caffeine in your body.

Reducing the amount of coffee you drink might not be that easy. You might have already become addicted to the aroma, the taste and the effects the coffee have. One of the first things that you need to do is to try and replenish the water that has been lost from drinking coffee. The increased water intake can also help flush out the unwanted caffeine in your body which is a good thing. According to health experts, an intake of 400 milligrams of caffeine daily is not good. This is actually equivalent to about three eight-ounce cups of coffee.

Also learn not to replace meals with coffee. There are a lot of people who don’t eat breakfast but are satisfied with drinking just coffee. Never replace your meals with coffee. That is already an unhealthy lifestyle and you should try to change it.

Coffee Addiction

Contrary to what most people believe, coffee is actually not addictive. This belief may have stemmed from the many people making a habit of drinking coffee day in and day out. Having such a habit may sometimes give the idea that coffee drinking may be addictive. But actually, it is not. Studies have shown that caffeine in coffee has, in no way, the same addictive effects on the brain as those found in addictive drugs such as amphetamines or cocaine.

Coffee and Asthma

Coffee has been known to help manage respiratory conditions such as asthma. Actually, the practice of coffee drinking to aid people with asthma has already been followed and known of as early as a hundred years ago. The ability of coffee to handle asthma has recently been corroborated by a recent study where participants with asthma who drank an average of three cups daily have had the incidence of their asthma attacks fall by 28 percent.

Coffee and Headaches

It has been widely thought that coffee may have some pain killing effect. Some believe that coffee may also help banish headaches. Some studies suggest that this might be true. A study was conducted where people suffering from regular headaches were asked to take either a combination of a painkiller and drinking coffee or mainly just painkillers to treat their condition. The results showed that 80 percent of those who drank coffee along with taking painkillers showed a significant improvement within six hours as compared to just 67 percent of the group taking only painkillers for their headaches.

Researchers believe that the caffeine in coffee may have an effect on the treatment of headaches. Caffeine is known to help improve the absorption of substances in pain medications and enhance their pain killing effects. Caffeine is also known to constrict the blood vessels and so may counteract the effects of headaches caused by blood vessel dilation.

Coffee and Sleeplessness

Although popular belief tells us that coffee may cause sleeplessness in some people, there are studies indicating that this popular beverage does not inhibit sleep in any way. Although the caffeine in coffee is known as a stimulant and may boost alertness in people, it does not affect the dream phase of sleep in any way. As a stimulant, coffee may make it hard for some people to sleep, but it does not in any way cause people to lose sleep at night.

Heart ailments:

A study has found that in a sample of 1,354 respondents aged 65 years and older, those who have been drinking coffee on a regular basis for 10 years or more exhibited a 43% lower possibility of experiencing coronary heart diseases. Adults who do not drink coffee at all have been found to be more at risk for different heart problems. It was also found that most coffee drinkers do not show signs of heart valve problems. Caffeine is believed to be responsible for this health benefit.

Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease:

Several studies have concluded that drinking a cup or two of coffee everyday could lower the possibility of contracting Alzheimer’s disease by about 30 percent to 64 percent. A particular study in Finland has found that adults who consumed about three to five cups of coffee daily were not as likely to contract Alzheimer’s disease by 62 percent to 64 percent. These adults also were found to between a 65 percent and 70 percent less possibility of developing dementia compared to those who do not drink coffee at all. In the same study, it was found that coffee was the best and most recommended source of caffeine rather than tea or several soft drinks.

Type 2 diabetes:

There is also evidence that drinking coffee everyday may help prevent the risk of contracting type 2 diabetes that is also linked to a greater risk of developing dementia.

Several forms of cancer:

Caffeine in coffee was also proven to help prevent development and onset of specific types of cancer. In particular, some research efforts have found that regular coffee drinkers are not as likely to develop oral cancer. Other cancer forms may also be avoided such as cancer of the pharynx, the mouth, and the esophagus. Caffeine intake may even spare heavy alcohol drinkers and smokers from developing oral cancer.

Take note, however, that experts still advise people to avoid or give up excess alcohol intake and tobacco smoking to make the risk of developing oral cancer almost impossible.

The big bonus, of course, is the current list of good news about coffee consumption. Through the years, it has been discovered that coffee, aside from the pleasurable drink that it is, actually helps boost a person’s health in so many ways.

Here they are in arbitrary order.

Coffee as an antioxidant.

Grapes, cranberries and dates are high in antioxidants aside from their vitamins and minerals.  Yet, people get more antioxidants from coffee than from these fruits or other vegetables.

One reason we get our antioxidants from coffee is that we simply consume more of it than any other source of antioxidants. According to a study by Nestle Research Center in Switzerland, coffee has four times more antioxidants than the famous green tea. It has also more antioxidants than cocoa, herbal teas, and red wine.

One other good thing is that both decaffeinated coffee and a regular brew have the same antioxidants. Decaf or not, coffee helps people fight off damaging effects of free radicals.

Oxidation is a normal process that breaks down chemicals in our bodies. However, it also creates free radicals which can attack our cells. (Tobacco smoke and radiation can also create free radicals.)

Left alone, free radicals can cause permanent body damage. Antioxidants, which have also been linked to protection against heart disease and cancer, round up and neutralize these damaging radicals in the system.

Coffee as a stimulant.

The caffeine in coffee acts as a stimulant. This is why it is a perfect morning beverage to start the day. Recent studies have also discovered additional stimulants not related to caffeine. It is a chemical agent, unknown as yet, that induces production of cortisone and adrenaline, two stimulating hormones.

Tip: If you want coffee to keep you alert, drink small amounts of coffee throughout the day.

Coffee enhances short term recall and increases IQ.

In tests, people who regularly drank coffee were found to perform better in simple reaction time, incidental verbal memory, and visual-spatial reasoning. Another study showed that women over 80 years old who regularly drank coffee throughout their lives performed significantly better on cognitive tests.

Coffee and diabetes.

There have also been discoveries on the beneficial connection between coffee and diabetes.

Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham Women’s Hospital have found that the participants in their study who regularly drank coffee significantly reduced the risk of the onset of type 2 diabetes, compared to non-coffee drinking participants. Their findings appeared in the Annals of Internal Medicine, Jan. 6, 2004 issue.

Coffee and fiber.

The presence of fiber in coffee seemed a dubious idea at first. But recent findings in Spain suggest that the levels of soluble fiber in coffee are higher than those found in wine and orange juice.

This is the fiber that helps prevent cholesterol from being absorbed by the intestines. One interesting note: the fiber is higher in instant coffee than in freshly ground coffee.

Coffee as an analgesic.

It has also been found that caffeine increases the effectiveness of pain-killers, especially migraine and common headaches. (Caffeine is included in the formula of some headache drugs.)

Since regular coffee contains caffeine, coffee can help in significantly toning down simple headaches and migraine.

Coffee and other diseases.

There are other diseases that coffee seems to fight off.

A recent study (2009) found that moderate coffee drinkers had a reduced risk of developing dementia in addition to Alzheimer’s disease. Coffee drinkers are likewise significantly less likely to contract Parkinson’s disease later in life.

It has also been shown that coffee can reduce the incidence of cirrhosis of the liver and a primary liver cancer with cirrhosis. The same is true of coffee’s consumption correlated to reduced risk of oral, esophageal and pharyngeal cancers.

All in all, coffee has been through many scientific studies. The old myths about coffee have been banished. Formal scientific discoveries though the years have uncovered significant positive health benefits associated with coffee drinking.

Let’s have a coffee toast to that.

Caffeine is the main component of coffee that is believed to bring about surprising health benefits. There has been growing evidence that caffeine could lower risks of certain diseases in older and middle-aged adults. Studies advise drinking at least two hot cups of coffee daily to gain the benefits of caffeine.

Many studies found that caffeine brings health benefits to animals. Several researchers are now proving the helpfulness and effectiveness of the substance in slowing down or preventing the progression of heart ailments, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, and even oral cancer. Before caffeine is formally pronounced totally advantageous against such health risks, more studies still need to be done to confirm results.

There is a reason why coffee is used in studies to investigate the health benefits of caffeine. The substance can also be found in several brands of soft drinks, tea, several medications, and even chocolate. However, coffee is still the best and most popular source of caffeine. Promising data indicate strong links between regular consumption of caffeinated coffee and avoidance of specific types of diseases.

Many experts are not advising particular brands or types of coffee. They advise regular drinking of coffee in general. Whether you enjoy drinking black coffee, brewed, or instant, you can rest assured you will still attain the same level of caffeine. While in the past coffee was always served hot, nowadays, it is also served cold, icy, or in frappe.

Before you decide to perk yourself up with coffee, you have to first consult your personal doctor to find out how many cups of coffee you should consume. Every cup of coffee is estimated to have many  antioxidants and several other healthy chemicals. Remember that caffeine intake is not always advisable and prescribed to people who are taking specific medications.

Caffeine intake is also not very advisable for pregnant women as well as for patients with heart arrhythmia. While some studies recommend up to two cups of coffee everyday, it is still best if you observe moderation. Take note that too much caffeine could cause insomnia, jitters, stomach upset, headaches, and anxiety.

Health Benefits

Because of its wide popularity among people as a preferred beverage, many studies have been made to better understand coffee and its possible effects on the human body. There have been no fewer than 19,000 studies conducted during the recent decades to try and understand the impact of coffee on health. So far, the results have offered a hopeful view to one of the world’s most popular beverages.

Coffee and Parkinson’s

Some studies have shown that coffee drinkers stand less of a risk of developing Parkinson’s disease by as much as 80 percent. The more that people seem to drink coffee, as shown in some of the studies, the lesser are the risks.

Other studies have indicated that drinking coffee may also affect the development of other diseases and conditions. When compared to not drinking coffee, coffee drinkers of at least two cups daily stand to enjoy 25 percent less risk of developing colon cancer. This may also translate to an 80 percent reduced risk of liver cirrhosis and about a 50 percent reduced risk of developing gallstones.

Coffee Vs. Vices

Other studies also indicate that coffee seems to offset some of the damage caused by other vices such as smoking and alcohol drinking. People who are smokers and heavy drinkers seem to suffer from less heart disease and liver damage when they also drink large amounts of coffee regularly as compared to those people who don’t.  Coffee also has been found to be a good way to help manage and control a person’s asthma in the absence of medication.

Coffee also is known to help stop a headache, boost a person’s mood and even help prevent the spread of cavities. Coffee is also known as an effective aid in trying to enhance athletic endurance and performance. The known benefits of coffee stand to increase the more researchers begin to study about them. These benefits would likely endear this all-time popular beverage to more and more people.