Hippocrates said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Food can heal the body. Coffee is probably the greatest source of antioxidants in the global diet. And while having lots of it isn’t recommended for everyone, for some of us, it may just be the superfood of the century. Here are nine reasons to start the day with this healing drink.
It may lower risk of death.
Coffee appears to lengthen the “when” for individuals with certain chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, according to a large 2012 study. The study found that the more coffee (three or more cups a day), the lower the risk of death regardless of whether participants drank caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee.
It helps make the reproductive systems happy.
Coffee lowers the risk of prostate cancer, and the risk of endometrial cancer. A 2011 study found that men consuming six or more cups a day reduced their risk of prostate cancer by 20 percent! Another study published in the Journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention found that women who drank more than four cups of coffee a day had a 25 percent lower risk of endometrial cancer.
Helps lower the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
A 2012 study found that a compound in coffee helped to block a substance that may play a role in the development of diabetes. Further studies demonstrated that caffeinated coffee consumption is linked to decreased diabetes risk.
Helps protect the brain.
Coffee drinkers are more likely to resist development of dementia and Alzheimer’s later in life according to a 2009 study. Another study found that the smell of coffee helped to reduce stress associated with loss of sleep.
Helps recovery after colon surgery.
One big sign of recovery from surgery is the return of bowel function. One study found that coffee consumption helped to speed this recovery sign when compared to water drinkers.
It’s great for skin.
Drinking coffee may help you to ward off the most diagnosed form of skin cancer! A study in the journal Cancer Research looking specifically at the caffeine in coffee demonstrated that coffee drinkers had a lower risk of developing basal cell carcinoma.
May help reduce the risk of oral cancer.
A recent large study found that individuals who drank four or more cups of coffee a day had a 50 percent lower risk of death from oral cancers in a 25-year time frame.
May help strengthen your muscles — and DNA.
A study in the journal Cell Metabolism found that caffeine actually had a similar effect to our DNA molecules in our muscles as exercise (now, this does not mean you can stop exercising). The study looked specifically at DNA changes of muscles in sedentary individuals and found that positive effects from coffee were similar to effects derived from exercise. The most interesting factor in the study was the fact that these positive changes were seen rather quickly.
Consumption of coffee is not recommended for everyone. While you may automatically think that patients with heart problems avoid the java, some studies actually show benefit of coffee consumption for heart patients. Individuals that are pregnant or going through IVF treatments should avoid consumption of coffee. Individuals struggling with insomnia or depression should limit coffee intake. Keep the coffee cup out of your children’s hands and let them experience the wonders of coffee when they get older.