Coffee and Health

All those coffees consumed actually have more positive effects than just helping to get through the day. Just like chocolate before it, coffee is now a proven method to reduce many nuisances down the road if taken in moderation.Research by many studies and one by Harvard Univeristy shows- two to max three cups of coffee a day- can actually reduce the risk of many fatal diseases. Keep in mind that most studies of coffee, a "cup" of coffee is an 8-ounce cup with 100 mg of caffeine, not the 16 ounces, the size of a grande coffee at a Starbucks, which has about 330 mg of caffeine.

The Harvard Health Letter supports this in a study done a couple years ago, and discredits many of the previous assumptions about coffee.

Long term studies from the research show that it does not increase the risk for high blood pressure.

It is also shown to battle cancer as a study by researchers concluded that coffee drinkers were fifty percent less likely to get liver cancer than non-drinkers.

Another study by Harvard confirms the positives as a Harvard professor Dr. Rob Van Dam states, "Coffee consumption offers protection against type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and liver cirrhosis."

Van Dam also states that their latest study showed a lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease than non coffee drinkers.

Coffee may contain chemicals that lower blood sugar, therefore heavy coffee drinkers may be half as likely to get diabetes.

Though it is shown to increase cholesterol, having coffee in moderation should keep the benefits on top of the risks.

The United States remains the world's largest coffee consuming country, and while that figure is not expected to go down anytime soon, the world's largest economy needs to start moderating its usage. Even if coffee is deemed beneficial, like the saying goes, "too much of anything, even good, is bad for you". Coffee in moderation can still be achieved in America's workplaces and institutions even if 'America runs on Dunkin' and Starbucks.