Coffee Linked to Surprising Health Benefits

Coffee has fallen in reputation ever since it became an all day drink with corporate conglomerates on every corner offering coffee dessert rather than straight up cups of Joe. Yet, this ancient beverage has been fueling mankind since being discovered by a goat herder named Kaldi in the 9th century. He noticed his goats eating coffee berries and then gaining enormous energy.

Today, if consumed responsibly, coffee can be applied as a good health tool. Just like many other botanicals coffee offers built in healing compounds that include antioxidants like chlorogenic acid and moderate amounts of magnesium, potassium and niacin (vitamin B3).

It is important to note that too much caffeine can cause systemic problems however these studies include the same benefits when decaffeinated coffee was used.

Lowers Colorectal Cancer Risk

A study by researchers from the University of Southern California (USC) has recently reported that coffee consumption is linked to the decrease of colorectal cancer risk. After studying over 5,500 participants from healthy groups and those afflicted with colorectal cancer it was stated that,

“The data showed that even moderate coffee consumption, between one to two servings a day, was associated with a 26 percent reduction in the odds of developing colorectal cancer after adjusting for known risk factors. Moreover, the risk of developing colorectal cancer continued to decrease to up to 50 percent when participants drank more than 2.5 servings of coffee each day. The indication of decreased risk was seen across all types of coffee, both caffeinated and decaffeinated.”

Keeps You Living The Dream

If you want to hold on to your charmed life as long as possible maybe coffee consumption can help. Results from a long term study of over four million surveyed were published in the journal Circulation concluding that,

“Higher consumption of total coffee, caffeinated coffee, and decaffeinated coffee was associated with lower risk of total mortality.”

Female Tinnitus Relief

Ringing, or continuous sounds in the ears may be diagnosed as tinnitus, an annoying to sometimes painful affliction which affects about ten percent of Americans. Published in the American Journal of Medicine, an 18 year study of over 65,000 women found that drinking several cups of coffee a day reduced their risk of developing tinnitus. Senior author of the study Gary Curhan, professor in the Department of Epidemiology at HSPH and a physician-researcher at Brigham and Women’s Hospital comments,

“We know that caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, and previous research has demonstrated that caffeine has a direct effect on the inner ear.”

May Prevent Suicide

Being in a slump could, in some people, manifest to such a depression that the terrible result of suicide occurs. Although suicidal feelings should be dealt with by a medical professional there is research of how coffee may diminish these feelings long enough to address suicidal tendencies.

Research by Harvard University scientists studied the effects of coffee on suicide. Their findings were published in The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry stating that,

“As compared with non-coffee drinkers, the pooled multivariate RR of suicide was 45% lower among individuals who consumed 2–3 cups of coffee per day, and 53% lower among individual consuming ≥ 4 cups of coffee per day.”

The researchers attribute the stimulating effects of caffeine responsible for these results.

Prostate Protection

Prostate challenges are major concerns for men. Coffee may help prevent these issues that according to Cancer.net manifest into cancer in approximately 180,000 men per year.

Harvard School of Public Health reports that,

• Men who consumed the most coffee (six or more cups daily) had nearly a 20% lower risk of developing any form of prostate cancer.
• Men who drank the most coffee had a 60% lower risk of developing lethal prostate cancer.
• The reduction in risk was seen whether the men drank decaffeinated or regular coffee, and does not appear to be due to caffeine.
• Even drinking one to three cups of coffee per day was associated with a 30% lower risk of lethal prostate cancer.

 

Now that you know coffee is linked to these surprising health benefits you may be doing yourself a favor when you juggle that cup on your way to work. Black coffee is the best to consume as milk, sugar, flavoring and other additives may cause weight gain, spike blood sugar and tax your immune system. Drinking coffee responsibly is highly recommended so be sure and watch over doing it, especially when it comes to excessive caffeine consumption.