Aside from the negative effects of excessive coffee consumption, such as insomnia and hypertension, coffee also has positive health benefits due to its antioxidants. In a study shows that if taken in moderation, coffee actually has more positive effects than negative effects. Below are some health benefits of drinking coffee.
- Reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes
Some studies have found that people who drank sugar-free coffee had a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. According to a study, postmenopausal women who drank at least 4 cups of coffee a day can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by up to 50 percent. - Protect against cancers
According to Prof. Takayuki Shibamoto, an environmental toxicologist from the University of California, US, freshly brewed coffee has powerful antioxidants that are essential for cancer protection. Antioxidants can protect against oxidative damage in DNA, which can cause cancer.
A 2011 study found that women who drank several cups of coffee a day had a lower risk of endometrial cancer. Furthermore, coffee consumption also linked to a decreased risk of colon cancer, rectal cancer, oral cancer and esophageal cancer. - Prevent dementia
People who consumed 3-5 cups of coffee a day had a 65 percent less likely to develop dementia. The researchers believe the antioxidant properties of coffee can work to reduce the forms of vascular dementia. Also, drinking coffee may protect against type 2 diabetes, a chronic disease that increases the risk of dementia. - Protect against Parkinson's disease
Coffee help reduce the risk of Parkinson's disease in men. Men who drank 2-3 cups of caffeinated coffee per day had a 25 percent lower risk of Parkinson's than those who do not or drank less coffee. - Relieve depression
According to a study from the Harvard School of Public Health, people who drank four or more cups of coffee per day had a 20 percent lower risk of depression. While those who consumed 2-3 cups of coffee a day had 15 percent lower risk.
The Harvard researchers also seen a similar decrease of depression in people who consume caffeinated soft drinks.