Rich aroma, robust flavor and increased energy and alertness are the usual benefits of drinking coffee offered by coffee lovers. After years of medical studies, it is possible to also add prevention of cancer, liver disease and a number of other serious illnesses to that list.
It may sound strange to think of coffee as a provider of major health benefits, considering that coffee and its high caffeine content are usually associated with adverse side effects. But the truth is that a moderate daily coffee intake is actually good for you.
Many components of coffee act as natural shields against the development of these conditions. For instance, caffeine is known to help prevent liver cancer, and the many antioxidants found in coffee reduce the chances of developing cancer. Antioxidants of all types are widely believed to protect cells and tissues in our bodies from oxidative damage. Oxidative damage to these cells often results in the development of cancerous cells. Antioxidants are also known to help prevent heart disease - another major killer.
Two antioxidants found in coffee beans are caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid. The oil in coffee beans also contain anti-carcinogenic agents, further helping to reduce the chances of developing cancer.
The benefits of drinking coffee in regards to bowel cancer specifically lies in the mounting evidence that coffee actually reduces the output of bile acids, which play an active role in promoting cancer in the colon.
The prevention of Type 2 diabetes - the most common form of the disease - is also among the newfound benefits of drinking coffee. A number of tests conducted in Europe and the US over the past decade have shown that regular coffee drinking can reduce the risk of developing diabetes by as much as 50 percent. Considering the number of people that suffer from Type 2 diabetes - more than 150 million worldwide - the test results are significant and exciting.
Another well-known and severely debilitating condition that coffee can help prevent is Parkinson's Disease. Studies have shown that people who drink at least four cups of coffee a day are five times less likely to develop Parkinson's Disease due to coffee's high caffeine content.
In addition to long-term help in preventing the heavyweight conditions listed above, one of the more common and temporary benefits of drinking coffee is caffeine's rapid effect on headaches.
The recommended intake to gain the above benefits of drinking coffee is between three and five cups a day.
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