COFFEE’S HEALTH BENEFITS

13 Mar 2018

Extensive studies support the long-held view that the regular consumption of coffee has significant health benefits.

Findings from different studies in the US over the past few years indicate that people who drink approximately 400 mg of coffee per day (which equates to around 4 standard cups) reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes, have fewer strokes and heart problems, and lower rates of certain cancers.

Two new studies have examined the effects of coffee on more than 700,000 people of a variety of ethnicities in the US and Europe. They found that not only do the positive benefits of coffee exist across cultures, but also that coffee drinkers tend to live longer than their non- caffeine consuming counterparts.

However, individuals still need to be aware of caffeine’s effect on their bodies specifically.

“We don’t all metabolise caffeine the same way,” Health medical editor Roshini Raj MD explains. “Listen to your body, and if you tend to get jittery, try spacing out your caffeinated beverages.”

Other studies have shown that consuming more than 400 mg of caffeine can have a decidedly negative effect on overall health, and has been linked to depression, anxiety and hypertension. For this reason, researchers urge coffee drinkers to be aware of their overall caffeine intake, including caffeinated soft drinks and artificial sweeteners.