You may not be able to imagine a day without coffee. But is it really good for you?
For many, it is hard to imagine a day without coffee. It turns out that coffee is good for more than jump-starting your mornings or keeping you awake during meetings. While past studies hinted that coffee might have a dark side, newer research suggests that it may actually have some health benefits.
Here are a few benefits of coffee identified in some recent studies:
- Consuming coffee regularly may be associated with a decreased risk of developing type 2 diabetes over the long term.
- Coffee may increase your protection against Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
- Coffee consumption may be linked to a decreased risk of death from chronic liver disease, and liver cancer.
- Some research also shows that drinking coffee could be linked to a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, and heart failure.
Remember, however, that what you add to your coffee can make a difference in how healthy it really is. Instead of loading up on cream and sugar, try adding a couple of tablespoons of milk, milk substitute or half-and-half, and even using naturally sweet spices and flavorings.
Coffee still has some risks, mostly due to its high caffeine content. For some, it can temporarily raise blood pressure and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding need to be cautious about their caffeine intake.
What’s the bottom line? Enjoy a daily cup or two of coffee but don’t use it as a substitute for other healthy behaviors. Your coffee habit is probably fine and may even have some benefits. But if you have side effects from coffee, such as heartburn, nervousness or insomnia, consider cutting back. If you are interested in learning more about medical weight loss and optimizing your health, we encourage you to reach out Dr. Trupti Patel and her professional team at https://healthymeweightloss.com/
