Drinking coffee has somewhat become second nature to people. You wake up in the morning, and the first thing you think about is the warm aroma hitting your tongue and giving you that boost of energy that you crave. Everyone has their favorite, whether that’s cold brew coffee, frappuccino, or plain old espresso. But there may be more to our morning cup of coffee than we realize. Unknown to many people, coffee has some goodness loaded into it. We wanted to find out just exactly what those health benefits are because we’ll take any excuse to drink more coffee. Let’s delve into this and maybe we won’t feel bad about reaching for that second (or third) cup of coffee.
According to Alissa Rumsey, MS, RD, a New York City-based dietician, “Coffee intake has been linked to numerous health benefits, including improved cognitive function, protection against degenerative diseases, better heart health, and a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes,” That sounds like good news to us. But just like with everything in life, moderation is key. So when it comes to the amount of coffee we drink throughout the day, we don’t want to overdo it. Vikki Petersen, DC, CCN, CFMP, a California-based functional medicine doctor explains that “While the FDA may say three to five cups [of coffee] is safe, I recommend my patients stick to one to two cups, and not to drink any caffeine after midday to ensure no sleep disruptions that night.”
But you may be wondering why coffee could be called a superfood. Coffee happens to be filled with essential vitamins and minerals, such as riboflavin, pantothenic acid which help to ward off diseases. It can also reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers. Not only that, but coffee could also increase your brain health, and that’s good news considering that many people can’t function without their first sip of coffee. Peterson says, “One study showed that drinking three to five cups of coffee per day at the midlife age was associated with a 65 percent decreased risk in dementia and Alzheimers late in life.” With all these known benefits, it could be easy to chug several cups a day. But remember the importance of moderation not use caffeine as a crutch to get through the day.