Coffee's Hot Health Facts

Coffee is also linked to reduce stroke risk. In a 2009 study of nurses, those who reported drinking two or more cups a day showed a 20 percent decrease in risk of stroke, regardless of high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, or having type 2 diabetes.

Vastly Reduces Mental Illness Risk

Demetia and Alzheimers are other diseases coffee seems to have an effect on, reports the same WebMD article. A 20 year study, from Finland and Sweden, showed men and women who drank three to five cups daily were 65 percent less likely to develop the diseases compared to nondrinkers and occasional drinkers.

Caffeine Ok During Pregnancy

One of the most well known pregnancy "don'ts" was drinking caffeine. Pregnant women were told to drink decaf, or risk losing their babies. However, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists rescinded that recommendation in July of 2010. The ACOG announced there is no link between moderate caffeine consumption and miscarriage. Moderate caffeine consumption is defined as 200 mg of coffee. The group says it remains unclear whether drinking more caffeine has any adverse effects or not.

Host Of New Research

Studies appear weekly confirming coffee's positive place in the diet, such as Nestle's research on instant coffee. Research indicates three cups of instant coffee increases the Bifidobacterium Spp. bacteria in the human digestive system. This bacteria has reputed health benefits similar to probiotics, although no health claims are yet being made.

A 2007 study, in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, reported in the New York Times, concluded coffee could ease asthma symptoms for a short time. The chemical structure of caffeine is similar to an asthma medication, which prompted the research.

While 30 years ago a study linked coffee to pancreatic cancer sending a scare through coffee drinkers everywhere, it's now been refuted. The latest research indicates coffee keeps people from getting certain cancers. In a study led by Dominique S Michaud about coffee and tea intake, the risk of brain tumors was lowered for those who drank more than 100 ml (approximately half a cup of coffee) of caffeine a day. The risk dropped 34 percent for the brain cancer glioma, a specific type of brain cancer affecting the central nervous system.

The American Association for Cancer Research released a press release that coffee protects from head and neck cancers. An International Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology consortium study showed people who drank four or more cups a day had a 39 percent decreased risk of oral cavity and pharynx cancers combined, over nondrinkers.

It seems that all the health benefits linked to coffee are seen in people who drink it in moderation, somewhere between 2 to 6 cups daily. It should come as a relief that enjoying some of America's favorite morning refreshment isn't harming people's health. Instead, research shows it is doing some good in helping them live a healthier lifestyle.