Coffee can be beneficial part of a healthy diet

Moderate coffee consumption has been linked to a range of health benefits, including decreased risk of type 2 diabetes and some cancers. This association is likely due to anti-inflammatories and antioxidants found in both caffeinated and decaffeinated brews.

A recent study co-authored by Derrick Alperet, a research fellow in the Department of Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, found that drinking four cups of coffee daily—without cream and sugar—was associated with an approximately 4% reduction in body fat.

“Our study results and evidence from previous studies suggest that regular coffee intake may aid in weight loss and in achieving better overall health if it is incorporated into a healthful diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, fish and whole grains, but less of sugar and artificially sweetened beverages and processed and red meat,” he said in an April 23, 2020 Huffington Post article.

Elizabeth Mostofsky, instructor in the Department of Epidemiology, also noted in the article that caffeine can block brain receptors associated with pain, and can make other pain medications more effective.

Read the Huffington Post article: This Is Your Body And Brain On Coffee