How coffee can benefit your health
October 1st is International Coffee Day, a day to celebrate the caffeinated beverage that gets so many undergraduate students through their late night assignments, or kick-start their mornings. While a cup of java may be a go-to drink for students to grab in the morning, many students probably don’t think of the health benefits of coffee when they take that first sip on the way to class.
“October 1st is International Coffee Day…”
Coffee has historically been viewed as an unhealthy hot drink, and only in recent years has this reputation been disputed. According to the Heart Research Institute, the main reason that coffee has been saddled with a bad reputation is that heavy coffee drinkers have often indulged in other activities like smoking and a lack of exercise. There are also plenty of coffee-based beverages that have loads of extra sugars and fats from the creams and syrups that make those Frappuccinos and lattes taste so good. The other longstanding myth about coffee is that drinking coffee at a young age can cause a stunting of growth or a loss of bone density. While this claim has been proven to be false, the myth still lingers in the minds of concerned parents.
“…moderate coffee drinkers were at a lower risk for cardiovascular disease…”
One of the greatest benefits to drinking coffee can be found in an individual’s cardiovascular health. In a report published on Feb. 11, 2014 in the academic journal Circulation, after going through the data of 36 different studies, which had over 1,270,000 participants, the results found that moderate coffee drinkers were at a lower risk for cardiovascular disease than those who opted to skip their cup of joe. The term “moderate” is classified in this context as between three to five cups each day, while those who drink in excess had no increased risk of cardiovascular disease than the normal person. It’s still important to keep caffeine consumption to a moderate level, because of the increased risk of sleep issues if coffee, or any other caffeinated beverage, is consumed late at night.
“…initial findings have linked coffee consumption with a decrease in risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and an increase in cognitive functioning.”
While coffee’s ability to stimulate the mind, and aid an individual in feeling both alert and awake is well known, a recent study out of the University of Eastern Finland has pointed to the mental benefits of coffee extending beyond the short term. While more research is needed to confirm the study, initial findings have linked coffee consumption with a decrease in risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and an increase in cognitive functioning. While these results still need to be studied further, the results on negative effects from caffeine consumption, from the same study, have been more conclusive in showing no relation between a decline in mental cognition and caffeine consumption.
Whether you’re an avid patron of one of the many coffee-wielding locations around campus, or you just grab that occasional cup to help you finish up that late night assignment, celebrate the health benefits of coffee—in moderation of course—on International Coffee Day.
Photo courtesy of Sapphire Liu.