Coffee's Not So Bad For You After All!

Don't drink coffee, it will stunt your growth! If your mother shouted that to you as a kid, you're not alone. But while your mom may have been right about a lot of things, she was not right about coffee. The truth is, drinking coffee would not have kept you from growing. In fact, coffee actually offers a number of health benefits.

Coffee May Protect Against Heart Disease

A warm cup of Joe on a cool morning really is good for your heart and mind -- as long as you don't overindulge. A study conducted in Korea found that those who drank between 3 and 5 cups of coffee per day had a lower risk of  having calcium deposits in their arteries than their peers. These calcium deposits are a marker of heart disease, and they could lead to heart attack or stroke. Even those who drank just one cup of coffee per day had a lower risk of clogged arteries than those who drank no coffee. Though scientists are not sure how coffee protects against heart disease, they think the mechanism has something to do with its high antioxidant content.

Coffee Helps Guard Against Depression and Stress

In today's busy and demanding society, who isn't at least a little bit stressed? Stress can have a plethora of negative health consequences, from depression to insomnia. But luckily, including some coffee in your routine can help you manage that stress and also ward off depression. Researchers have found that the caffeine in coffee prevents certain receptors in the brain from reacting to stress and causing stress-related responses like memory problems, bad moods, and depressive thoughts. So, if you're tired of always feeling overwhelmed, try making a cup of coffee a part of your stress management routine.

Coffee Reduces Your Risk of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease is a debilitating brain disease that results in a profound loss of memory and cognition. Though scientists do not yet quite understand what causes this disease, there is evidence that drinking coffee may reduce your risk of developing it. Specifically, studies have concluded that drinking between 3 and 5 cups of coffee per day may reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's by about 20%. Coffee contains nutrients called polyphenols, which researchers believe help protect the brain by reducing inflammation.

So there you have it. Drinking coffee in moderation (it seems 3 to 5 cups a day is ideal) seems to do more good than harm when it comes to your health. For more information, contact Loft 950 or a similar location.