Is Your Coffee Habit Actually Good for You? The Surprising Truth

Introduction

Coffee is the most consumed non-alcoholic substance in the world. It's also a drug with serious health effects and risks, including addiction. So what's the verdict on your morning cup? Let's take a closer look at how coffee affects your body, how much you should drink, and what other factors to consider when making this decision for yourself.

Coffee can help your heart

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that adults drink two to three cups of coffee per day. In addition to being delicious and caffeinated, coffee has been shown to help lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and depression.

Coffee is also associated with a reduced risk of death from all causes in people who have heart failure or have had a myocardial infarction (heart attack).

You don't need to drink 8 cups a day to see benefits.

The science shows that the benefits of coffee are seen at lower levels, and are more pronounced in people who drink coffee regularly, not just once in a while. For instance:

A 2015 study found that drinking 4-6 cups of coffee per day was associated with an 11% lower risk of death from all causes (including heart disease). Those who drank 2-3 cups had an 8% lower risk; those who drank 1 cup had no effect on mortality rates.*

And while some studies suggest that drinking more than 500mg of caffeine per day may increase your risk for high blood pressure and heart arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat), other research suggests it could help prevent Parkinson's disease by reducing oxidative stress on brain cells.*

But there are some risks associated with coffee consumption.

Caffeine can cause anxiety and insomnia, according to the National Sleep Foundation. If you have trouble sleeping, consider cutting back on your caffeine intake before bedtime. Caffeine also increases heartburn risk by relaxing the lower esophageal sphincter (a muscle that acts as a barrier between your stomach and throat), increasing acid reflux into your esophagus, according to the Mayo Clinic. If you're prone to acid reflux (GERD), limit or avoid caffeine altogether before meals--or at least drink it with food so it'll stay down better!

Caffeine can also lead to headaches when consumed in large amounts over time; this is especially true if you have an underlying condition like migraines or hypertension (high blood pressure). Additionally, drinking too much coffee may lead to insomnia: A study published in 2008 found that people who drank four cups of coffee every day took longer than usual falling asleep at night compared with those who drank no caffeine at all during the day

Caffeine might mess with your sleep, especially if you drink it late at night.

Caffeine is a stimulant, which means it can disrupt the natural sleep cycle and make it harder for you to fall asleep. Caffeine stays in your body for up to six hours after you drink it, so even if you're not consuming coffee at night, its effects could still be lingering.

Additionally, there are some people who are more sensitive than others when it comes to caffeine's effects on their sleep--and these people might want to consider avoiding caffeine altogether (or at least cutting back). A study published in May 2018 found that around 50% of Americans experience insomnia from drinking coffee or tea at night; this number increases if they also consume energy drinks or chocolate bars containing caffeine during the day.

Coffee may increase your risk of liver cancer, but it's not clear how much risk there is.

There is no evidence that coffee causes liver cancer. However, some studies have shown a link between coffee consumption and liver cancer. It's unclear how much of a role coffee plays in this connection and whether or not it's actually causing the disease or if there are other factors involved.

Coffee is a complex substance with many different compounds that affect how it affects our bodies--and therefore their effects on our health. For example, antioxidants found in coffee may reduce risk for liver damage caused by alcohol consumption; however, they can also increase insulin resistance (a precursor to type 2 diabetes) by inhibiting peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma), which regulates glucose metabolism in the body.*

It's important to limit the amount of caffeine you consume and drink coffee in moderation.

Get enough sleep, so you can function at your best.
Limit caffeine consumption to 1-2 cups a day.
Avoid drinking coffee late at night, as it may interfere with your ability to fall asleep or stay asleep throughout the night. Caffeine has a half-life of 5 hours (meaning that after 5 hours, half of what was consumed has been cleared from your system), so even if you don't feel like you've had enough sleep after having one cup of joe in the morning before work or school, chances are good that it won't affect how well rested and alert you feel during those activities later on in the day--as long as they're not happening right after lunch!

Drink coffee in moderation: Don't overdo it!

Conclusion

Coffee can be a great drink to have in moderation, but it's important to remember that it's not a magic bullet. If you're trying to lose weight or cut back on your caffeine consumption, there are other ways besides cutting out coffee that might work better for you.