5 surprising health benefits of drinking coffee

Joe. Java. Black Gold. There’s nothing better than starting your morning with a hot cup of coffee, but did you know there are health benefits to go with that energy boost?

Let’s burst one bubble right away: The coffee we’re talking about is black – without three pumps of caramel and whipped cream.

Coffee makes exercise more fun

According to a recent study from the Journal of Applied Physiology, participants who had a cup of coffee before and after they exercised described their workout as less difficult and more enjoyable than those who didn’t have the caffeine boost.

Promotes a healthy heart

The rush of caffeine may seem like coffee would negatively affect heart health, but researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and Harvard School of Public Health combined several studies to conclude that two cups of coffee can lower the risk of heart failure by 11%.

Lowers risk of Parkinson’s disease

According to a 30-year study, higher coffee and caffeine intake is associated with a “significantly lower incidence of Parkinson’s Disease.” It may even help those with Parkinsons control their movement.

Protects against Type 2 diabetes

Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) reviewed multiple studies and found participants who increased their coffee intake by more than one cup a day over a 4-year period had an 11% lower type 2 diabetes risk, compared with people who did not change their intake.

Reduces risk of certain cancers

We’ve come a long way since the ’90s, when coffee was thought of as carcinogenic. A gathering of 23 international scientists from World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer reviewed more than 1,000 studies and concluded coffee lowered the risk of uterine and liver cancers. More specifically, Italian researchers found that coffee consumption can lower the risk of liver cancer by about 40%.

Cheers to better health!