Three Health Benefits of Coffee

Because it can be such a treat, it may be hard to believe that there are some health benefits to drinking coffee. Now, I’m not necessarily talking about all the extra sugar, flavorings and whipped toppings that we add to our coffee and espresso drinks. But the core coffee bean does offer some interesting benefits.

1) Drinking a cup a day can lower the risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes. There are many, many risk factors for developing diabetes, including heredity, weight and body mass index, fat consumption, and many others. But Harvard researchers have recently reported that drinking 1 to 3 cups of coffee per day can reduce your risk of developing diabetes.

2) Drinking coffee can lower the risk of developing Parkinsons Disease. At least six studies indicate that people who drink coffee on a regular basis are up to 80% less likely to develop Parkinson’s, with three studies showing the more you drink, the lower the risk.

3) Drinking coffee can reduce risk of colon cancer. Additional research shows that drinking at least two cups daily can translate to a 25% reduced risk of colon cancer, an 80% drop in liver cirrhosis risk, and nearly half the risk of gallstones (compared with individuals who drink no coffee).

Much of the beneficial effects of coffee are attributed to the concentrated amounts of caffeine. Of course, all studies on the health benefits of coffee indicate that more research is needed, so I wouldn’t run out and drink a gallon a day just because of these findings. But it does help to take some of the “guilt” out of this guilty pleasure.