Coffee: Drink to Your Health

A cuppa coffee is good for more than a quick pick-me-up.

Move over, green tea? Recent studies indicate that coffee drinkers are
less likely to develop Alzheimer's, colon cancer, and diabetes
compared to non-drinkers, and they're also less apt to die from heart
disease. To be sure, coffee isn't for everyone: It can cause insomnia,
anxiety, and irregular heartbeat in some people, and too much caffeine
during pregnancy can increase miscarriage risk. Plus, specialty coffee
drinks (like Starbucks Frappuccinos) can be high in calories. But if
coffee's your drink of choice, let's look at the many ways that coffee
can boost your health:

Avoid Alzheimer's

A 2009 study found that people who drank three to five cups of coffee
a day at midlife were 65 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer's in
their later years, compared to those who drank little or no coffee.
Other research suggests that the caffeine in coffee may reduce
production of the protein beta-amyloid, deposits of which often form
in the brains of Alzheimer's patients


Curb Cancer Risk

The antioxidant compounds in coffee may help prevent several types of
cancer. In a Japanese study, women who drank three or more cups of
coffee a day had half the risk of developing colon cancer, compared to
those who didn't drink coffee. An analysis of 10 studies showed that
coffee drinkers have a 41 percent lower risk of liver cancer than
coffee abstainers. Other studies have linked coffee consumption with a
reduced risk of endometrial, kidney, and oral cancers


Defend Against Diabetes

Drinking coffee lowered the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up
to 60 percent in a 2006 study that included people at high risk for
the disease. Even former coffee drinkers were less likely to develop
the disease than those who never drank it. The antioxidants, minerals,
and caffeine in coffee may help keep diabetes at bay by improving
glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity.


Reduce Workout Pain

Consuming caffeinated coffee an hour before vigorous exercise may help
prevent pain while you're working out, suggests a 2009 study of young
men. An earlier study of young women found that using caffeine before
exercise can cut post-workout pain by nearly 50 percent. The caffeine
in coffee may help by blocking the activity of a chemical called
adenosine that activates pain receptors in cells.


Guard Against Gout

Two studies from 2007 suggest that drinking coffee is protective
against gout, a painful, arthritic condition of the joints (most
commonly, the big toes). In one study, middle-aged and older men who
drank four to five cups of coffee a day were 40 percent less likely to
develop gout than those who abstained from the beverage. Decaf also
was associated with a modest reduction in risk, suggesting that
something other than caffeine is responsible for the beneficial
effect. Another study, involving both men and women, found that coffee
consumption may lower blood levels of uric acid, a substance linked to
gout.


Deter Death from Heart Disease

A number of recent studies indicate that coffee drinkers have lower
odds of dying from heart disease. For instance, a 2008 study concluded
that women who drank two to three cups of coffee per day had a 25
percent lower risk of death from heart disease than those drinking
less than a cup a month. The antioxidants in coffee may have several
heart-healthy effects, including improving blood vessel function,
reducing inflammation, and protecting LDL ("bad") cholesterol from
oxidation


Preserve Your Memory

Coffee may help to keep memory sharp, according to a pair of studies
from 2007. In one study, older women who drank more than three cups of
coffee a day experienced less decline over time on memory tests than
those who drank one cup or less a day. Tea drinkers enjoyed similar
benefits, so caffeine may be the beneficial component. Another study
found that older men who consumed three cups of coffee a day had a
slower rate of cognitive decline than those who drank either more or
less than this amount.


Protect Against Parkinson's

Several studies have linked coffee drinking with a lower risk of
Parkinson's disease. For instance, a 2007 study revealed that people
who drank one to four cups of coffee a day cut their chances of
developing the neurodegenerative disorder by nearly 50 percent.
Scientists believe the caffeine in coffee may help defend against
Parkinson's by boosting levels of the brain chemical dopamine


Sidestep Stones

Coffee appears to reduce the risk of both gallstones and kidney
stones. In a 2002 study, women who drank at least four cups of coffee
a day were 25 percent less likely to need surgery for gallstones than
nondrinkers were, and an earlier study showed that coffee drinking
lowered gallstone risk in men. The caffeine in coffee may discourage
gallstone formation by triggering gallbladder contractions and
increasing the flow of bile. As for kidney stones, both regular and
decaf coffee have been linked to risk reduction, perhaps simply by
increasing urine output.


Say No to Stroke

In a 2009 study, women who drank four or more cups of coffee a day had
a 20 percent lower risk of stroke, compared to those who had less than
one cup a month. Coffee's protective effect was even more pronounced
among nonsmokers: For women who had never smoked or had kicked the
habit, drinking at least four cups of coffee daily was linked to a 43
percent reduced risk of stroke. As with heart disease, the
antioxidants in coffee may offer protection by improving blood