The U.S. is in love with coffee—roughly 62% of Americans drink it every day, an all-time high—and coffee may just well love us back. Two decades of research suggests that coffee may help reduce the risk of illnesses ranging from cancer to heart disease to Alzheimer’s.
Although coffee was considered unhealthy and possibly harmful a few decades ago, recent studies suggest that coffee may in fact provide health benefits, said Edward Giovannucci, professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, in an August 30, 2017 Consumer Reports article about the best coffees and coffee makers and the surprising health benefits of java. Several studies have found that coffee drinkers are less likely to die prematurely than non-coffee drinkers. Other research has suggested that coffee can lower the risk of type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s, and respiratory diseases.
For people who shouldn’t drink too much caffeine, such as pregnant women or people taking certain antibiotics, antidepressants, and antipsychotics, decaffeinated coffee may be a healthy option, Giovannucci said.
Read the Consumer Reports article: Secrets to the Perfect Cup of Coffee
Learn more
Moderate coffee drinking may lower risk of premature death (Harvard Chan School release)
Drink up: Health benefits of coffee are numerous (Harvard Chan School news)
Increasing daily coffee consumption may reduce type 2 diabetes risk (Harvard Chan School release)