Coffee may be the most extensively studied beverage in the world.
Thousands of studies have examined its effects on life expectancy, heart health, blood sugar levels, body weight, cancer risk and many other health indicators.
For many years, the prevailing view was that regular coffee consumption could be harmful. However, as scientists studied its components in greater depth, they found that many of the compounds in coffee have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.
The conclusions of recent decades have been largely reassuring. One major meta-analysis found that, for most healthy adults, daily coffee consumption is more likely to benefit than harm the body. In fact, people who drink several cups of coffee a day appear to have, on average, nearly a 20% lower risk of premature death compared with those who drink little or no coffee.
Four “unexpected” health benefits of coffee
According to a report by The Washington Post, studies point to four notable health benefits of coffee consumption.
1. Improved liver health
Numerous studies have shown that coffee drinkers have lower rates of liver cancer, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cirrhosis and other liver disorders.
Coffee consumption is also associated with lower levels of liver enzymes, which is generally considered a sign that the liver is healthy and not under stress.
2. Lower risk of type 2 diabetes
Several large studies have found that people who consume three to four cups of coffee per day have about a 25% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, thanks to coffee’s ability to improve insulin sensitivity.
In addition, the risk of developing the disease falls by roughly 6% for every additional cup of coffee consumed daily, up to about six cups per day.
3. Lower risk of Parkinson’s disease
Scientists believe this benefit is linked to the caffeine contained in coffee.
A large meta-analysis of data from 24 studies involving more than one million people found that those who drank up to three cups of coffee per day were 28% less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease.
4. Greater physical activity
In another study, researchers found that on days when participants drank coffee, they took an average of 1,000 more steps.
That corresponds to roughly an additional 800 metres of walking.
“Taking an extra 1,000 steps a day provides meaningful benefits across multiple aspects of health,” said Gregory M. Marcus, Professor of Medicine.
Source: The Washington Post
