Do you drag yourself out of bed in the morning and stumble to the kitchen to pour yourself a big cup of coffee? Does the start of every day include that steaming mug of caffeine goodness? Maybe you even down multiple cups throughout the day.
Well, I’ve got good news for you.
That cup of Joe could be your ticket to a healthy heart. And that’s not all. There’s new evidence that the coffee you’ve been drinking might increase your longevity, ward off cancer, prevent diabetes and other diseases, and even keep your brain sharp.
A review of over 200 studies has found that drinking three to four cups of coffee a day is associated with a lower risk of death and heart disease compared with drinking no coffee.
Let’s Take A Look At The Research.
To better understand the effects of coffee consumption on health, a team at the University of Southampton, with collaborators from the University of Edinburgh, carried out an umbrella review of 200 studies of coffee drinkers.
And what they found will give you a guilt-free pass to pour yourself another cup.
Drinking coffee was consistently associated with a lower risk of death from ALL causes, including heart disease!
While the most significant reduction in risk of death was found for those who drink three cups a day, compared with non-coffee drinkers, increasing consumption to above three cups a day wasn’t harmful, but the beneficial effects were less pronounced.
Drinking coffee was even associated with a lower risk of several cancers, including prostate, endometrial, skin, and liver cancer, as well as type 2 diabetes, gallstones, and gout. The most significant benefits were seen for liver conditions like cirrhosis.
Even better, coffee consumption was connected to a lower risk of Parkinson’s disease, depression, and Alzheimer’s as well.
And don’t worry if you’re a decaf coffee drinker. Although there was less evidence for the effects of drinking decaffeinated coffee than the full-powered version, it did show similar benefits for several outcomes.
Lower Your Risk Of Liver Disease By 70 Percent
It seems that drinking coffee is excellent for your liver.
One study found that drinking coffee reduces your risk of cirrhosis by as little as 25% and as much as 70%!
And it doesn’t stop there.
A meta-analysis of nine different studies demonstrated the power of coffee to reduce your risk of liver cancer by a whopping 40 percent.
That’s right — that morning pick-me-up could help keep you safe from one of the deadliest forms of cancer.
And it seems that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is no match for coffee either. NAFD risk is reduced by 25–30 percent in low-level coffee drinkers and 65 percent in coffee guzzlers.
How in the world, then, does coffee have such a protective effect on your liver?
Some point out that coffee slows down connective tissue growth, suppressing liver fibrosis.
Others promote the theory that coffee compounds could have anti-cancer effects.
No matter the answer, the studies show that coffee and a happy liver go hand-in-hand.
But that’s not all.
Coffee Is Heart-Health Protective Too
A new study by researchers from the University of São Paulo in Brazil has found that drinking at least three cups of coffee per day protects your heart.
Specifically, this level of coffee consumption lowers your risk of atherosclerosis, an accumulation of plaque in your arteries.
Why is this so important?
Because this buildup can narrow your arteries, restricting blood flow, which can lead to heart disease and stroke.
Researchers found that compared with people who drank less than one cup or one to three cups of coffee each day, those who regularly consumed at least three cups daily were significantly less likely to show coronary calcification.
This is likely the reason that previous research found that drinking just one extra cup of coffee each week is associated with a 7 percent lower risk of heart failure and an 8 percent lower risk of stroke.
Amazing, right?
Two of your most vital organs, your heart and liver, are made healthier by a single beverage.
There Are Just A Few Things To Remember.
The first is that it’s best to buy organic. Like everything you take into your body, it’s best to ensure it’s as chemical and pesticide—free as possible.
The second is that although studies show that drinking coffee can be good for you, not all the things you put in your coffee carry the same benefits. Drinking coffee may be great for your heart and liver, but sugar is not.
If you want to get the most from your daily coffee indulgence, the key is to skip the sugar, artificial sweeteners, and sweetened coffee creamers you know are bad for you. Keep it simple. Drink it black.
So, coffee drinkers everywhere rejoice! That coffee you love so much loves you back.
