How Coffee Can Help

Coffee can get a bad rap. Most people know that it tastes delicious, but many of us are still scarred from being told as children that “coffee will stunt your growth.” Because of this, we might think of coffee as a “guilty pleasure” or simply a necessity to help us wake up at the start of the day. 

Turns out, coffee is actually good for you! The active ingredient in coffee is caffeine, of course. Studies have now shown that caffeine carries all sorts of health benefits for the human body. Not only does it raise energy levels, but it also helps with mental tasks such as recall and executive function. It can help dispel depression, thereby improving your mood. By boosting your metabolism, it can speed up fat-burning and heighten your physical performance. 

As with nearly everything in life, good things are good only so long as they are done in moderation. Drinking entire pots of coffee day-in, day-out is not going to increase the benefits you receive. Although the limit differs from person to person, in general you should stick to three to five cups of coffee per day. Any more than that and you may start to face health risks, such as high blood pressure. Luckily, if you stick to the recommended amount, you shouldn’t face any issues. 

If you do add coffee to your daily routine, it can also bring benefits to your long-term health outlook. Coffee can stave off illnesses of cognitive decline, like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Beyond being an effective preemptive treatment of dementia, coffee has been shown to lower risk of stroke and even certain types of cancer, specifically liver and colorectal cancer. Because of these health benefits, it should come as no surprise that drinking coffee for a lifetime can lead to a longer, not to mention more fulfilling, life.