Is Coffee Good for Your Health?

Many people are coffee drinkers, so it's logical that people would want to know if coffee is good for their health. Can it cause health problems? How much coffee do you have to drink before it becomes a health concern?

Personally, I love coffee. I have drank coffee since I was a young adult. I'll admit there have been times when I drank too much coffee. But now I drink a cup or two a day (or maybe three) and enjoy it. I have often wondered if it is really good for me though.

Even though research once showed that coffee drinkers could suffer from health problems (hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/is-coffee-good-or-bad-for-your-health), more recent studies indicate this is not the case with reasonable levels of consumption. In fact, drinking coffee can provide health benefits. These benefits outweigh the potential problems for most people (consumerreports.org/coffee/whole-body-benefits-of-coffee/).

The average coffee drinker consumes between two and five cups of coffee per day. If you keep the amount of coffee you drink to a reasonable level, you may have reduced chances of heart disease, depression, and some cancers, and you may even live longer.

Coffee is Good for the Heart!

Heart disease has been a concern for healthcare practitioners for many years. As people gain excess weight, the prevalence of heart disease increases. 

When people who were at high risk for heart disease or stroke started drinking two to three cups of coffee a day, they reaped the benefits. When compared to non-coffee drinkers, they were less likely to develop heart disease, have a stroke, or have other heart conditions. In fact, they lived longer!

Coffee can help those who are likely to develop heart diseases because of their genes and those who already have a heart condition.

Coffee Can Help You Breathe Better

Do you know someone with asthma? A cup of coffee could help them breathe better if they don't have their inhaler handy when they need it. 

Although drinking a cup of coffee will not help as much as having their medication, caffeine acts as a mild bronchodilator. It reduces fatigue of the respiratory muscles. 

So, while your asthma inhaler should always be your first treatment if you're having an asthma attack, if you find yourself without it, a cup of coffee might help. 

Can Coffee Help With Skin Problems?

Many people are unaware that the caffeine and oil from coffee have anti-inflammatory properties. If you have minor acne or psoriasis, a cup of coffee a day can help reduce the inflammation.

Coffee grounds have antimicrobial properties. As a result, they can help with minor skin infections when directly applied to the skin.

Coffee Can Improve Your Mood

If you suffer from minor depression, you may find that you feel better if you have a couple of cups of coffee. This is because coffee increases the production of dopamine and serotonin in the brain. The acids in coffee can decrease nerve inflammation, which is linked to depression.

If You are a Coffee Drinker, You May Have Better Health

Since there are so many positive properties in coffee, caffeine, and the beans coffee is made from, the health benefits of coffee likely outweigh the dangers. The key is to keep your coffee intake to two to three cups per day. You can drink up to five cups a day and be safe.

When people drink more than five cups of coffee per day, they may find that the risks outweigh the benefits.

Overall, coffee is safe for most people. If you have pre-existing health conditions, you should talk to your doctor about the benefits or dangers of drinking coffee.