Coffee & Health Benefits

The debate of whether coffee is good or bad for you has been raging for decades. While it's true that too much coffee can cause heart palpitations and other health problems, this popular drink also has many health benefits that make it worth it to pour an extra cup.

Function

A study by Harvard researchers showed that having at least 3 cups of coffee a day reduced the risk of diabetes by more than 50 percent when compared to people who didn't drink any coffee.

Features

A series of studies conducted by Vanderbilt University's Institute for Coffee Studies showed that coffee drinkers have a 25 percent less risk of developing colon cancer, 50 percent less chance of gallstones and 80 percent less chance of suffering from Parkinson's.

Considerations

According to a study published in the "Journal of Alzheimer's Disease," coffee can help in the prevention of dementia and Alzheimer's, especially in people who drink 2 or more cups per day, and particularly in women.

Expert Insight

Researchers conducting the Iowa Women's Health Study discovered that women who drank at least 2 cups of coffee a day were up to 25 percent less likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease than those who drank no coffee at all.

Benefits

Researchers at the Iowa Women's Health Study center also discovered that coffee has more antioxidants per gram than most fruits, including the much-revered grapes and oranges.