Coffee Benefits

Coffee is one of the world's most popular beverages. Millions of people enjoy a hot cup every morning to start their day. It is also one of the most researched food products around. Not only is coffee in moderation a safe product, it also has several health benefits. Health professionals do still advise against too much caffeine for children. Pregnant women are also advised to consume no more than three cups of coffee a day or 200 mg of caffeine.

Coffee drinkers, when compared to those who never consume coffee, have been found to have fewer cases of Type 2 Diabetes, Parkinson's Disease, and certain kinds of cancer. Hydration and the ability to exercise harder are also two coffee benefits. Type 2 Diabetes is the type that usually shows up later in life or after long periods of weight gain and a sedentary lifestyle. The cause is still not known. Years of research suggests that regular coffee consumption may prevent this type of Diabetes.

Research into how coffee does this is still ongoing. One suggestion is that the chloregenic acid contained in the drink is responsible for its preventative qualities. Parkinson's is a neurological disorder that affects over four million people. The disease is characterized by stiff muscles, tremors, and trouble controlling movements. A study in 1968 was the first to suggest that coffee drinkers are less likely to suffer from this disease.

There have been numerous studies since then that support the hypothesis that coffee can prevent the disorder. One such study followed the lives of 8000 men over the course of 27 years. The research found that those who drank four cups a day were less likely to suffer from Parkinson's. The men who never consumed coffee were five times more likely to suffer from Parkinson's Disease later in life.

These findings were further supported by the Nurse's Health Study. When it comes to cancer, there is a lot of research into food products that can cause the disease. There is also a lot of studies that indicate certain foods have properties that prevent and fight cancer. The World Cancer Research group conducted over 7000 studies on various foods and drinks.

They concluded that coffee does not likely pose any risk of cancer. When it comes to liver, ovarian, and bowel cancers, coffee once again seems to have a preventative effect. Increased exercise abilities and hydration are two more coffee benefits. There have been many studies conducted on elite athletes as well as average adults when it comes to exercise performance and caffeine consumption.

 The studies have covered both sexes and a wide range of ages. Research has proven caffeine improves your muscles' capacity to do work, especially over long periods of time. In 2007, a researcher by the name of Doherty reviewed previous studies into caffeine's affects on exercise. It was found that performance increased by 12.4% in endurance and high intensity activities.

 Coffee has also been found safe to consume for replacement of body fluids. It was once considered a diuretic that should not be consumed during exercise or in the heat. Modern studies, however, have concluded that there is no evidence that coffee will cause dehydration when used in moderation. Drinking 2 to 3 cups a day actually hydrates the body safely.