Health Benefits Of Coffee: Scientifically Proven Pros

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Coffee is a drink prepared from roasted, ground, and brewed coffee beans. Coffee is produced from the seed of the coffee plant, which is from the Madder family. The main scientifically-proven benefits of coffee are that it provides energy, improves mental, physical performance, and reduces the risk of many common diseases. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that older adults who drink coffee live longer. It lowers their risk of dying from diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease, and other medical complications by 10% for men and 15% for women.

Black coffee contains a host of nutrients that produce these benefits. Its caffeine activates neurochemicals and adrenal glands to make you feel energetic and alert. It contains many essential nutrients like B vitamins, manganese, and potassium, that keep your body in top form. And it is rich in antioxidants to ward off diseases like cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Here is a comprehensive list of the health benefits of drinking coffee. A 2018 study led by Judith Haendeler and Joachim Altschmied from the Medical Faculty at Heinrich-Heine-University and the IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine in Germany found that many of these health benefits of coffee peak at around four cups of coffee per day.

1. Wakes You Up

Coffee helps you wake up thanks to its caffeine content. An 8 oz cup of brewed coffee contains roughly 100 mg of caffeine, enough to trigger many of the health benefits of coffee.

Caffeine perks you up by mimicking a molecule called adenosine that occurs naturally in the body. This is explained in detail in the study Adenosine, Adenosine Receptors, and the Actions of Caffeine authored by B.B. Fredholm. The more time you spend awake, the more adenosine binds to neuron receptors in your brain, causing you to feel sleepy. However, caffeine molecules so closely resemble adenosine that they can take their place. By blocking the adenosine from reaching your neuron receptors, the caffeine blocks the feeling of tiredness.

Related: What is caffeine?

2. Gives Energy

The caffeine in coffee not only wakes you up, but it also keeps you feeling awake, with peak energy about 2 hours after consumption. Physiologically, this occurs for a different reason.

As explained in G.H. Kamimori’s study Effect of three caffeine doses on plasma catecholamines and alertness during prolonged wakefulness, caffeine’s presence in the body triggers the adrenal glands to release catecholamines. Catecholamines are the “fight-or-flight hormones, released when you’re under stress. The most well-known are adrenaline, epinephrine, and dopamine. Their release sends more blood to the muscles and oxygen to the brain, leaving you feeling energized.

3. Helps With Concentration

Coffee makes it easier to concentrate. This is another side effect of its caffeine content. One of the benefits of drinking black coffee is that caffeine is a stimulant, meaning it stimulates the nervous system. This increases the levels of dopamine, a neurochemical known to aid in focus. While too much dopamine can lead to that uncomfortable jittery feeling, people with naturally low dopamine, such as those with ADHD, concentrate better when caffeinated. This was demonstrated by Kezhi Lui of using tea as a caffeine source in the study Tea consumption may be an effective active treatment for adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

4. Provides Essential Nutrients

Coffee has long been known to provide a number of essential nutrients, with the study Nutrients in Coffee, Nutritional Evaluation of Coffee Including Niacin Bioassay by L.J. Teply released way back in 1957. It showed that by drinking just one cup of coffee, you’ll get 11% of your daily recommended riboflavin (vitamin B2), 6% of your daily vitamin B5, 3% each of the recommended potassium and manganese, and 2% each of magnesium and niacin. These vital nutrients help in your body in diverse ways, from aiding in the metabolism of fats and proteins to keeping your skin healthy.

Related: Nutritional Value of Coffee

5. Reduces Inflammation

Coffee has been proven to reduce low-grade inflammation in many individuals. In a 2012 study in the Journal of Functional Foods, titled Impact of coffee components on inflammatory markers: A review, authors Nancy J. Frost-Meyer and John V. Logomarsino determined that, while results have been mixed, overall coffee consumption seems to limit inflammation in most people. Low-grade inflammation can cause symptoms like pain, fatigue, and difficulties with digestion.

6. Improves Workout Efficiency

A study released in 2021 showed that drinking black coffee, or just consuming caffeine, 30 minutes before exercise can increase fat-burning. The study, titled Caffeine increases maximal fat oxidation during a graded exercise test: is there a diurnal variation? and headed by Mauricio Ramírez-Maldonado, was published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Medicine. The researchers used a sample size of 15 men in their 20s and 30s and found that consuming coffee prior to exercise increases fat oxidation. Moreso, they found that the effects were more pronounced if the exercise occurred in the afternoon rather than the morning.

7. Lowers Risk Of Colorectal Cancer

Coffee has been shown to both lower the risk of acquiring colorectal cancer and to improve the outcomes of those already diagnosed. A 2016 Israeli study entitled Coffee Consumption and the Risk of Colorectal Cancer found that coffee consumption lowered the odds of developing colorectal cancer by 26%. This was attributed to the polyphenols, melanoidins, diterpenes, and caffeine in coffee, all of which are relevant to colon health.

Another study published in 2017, titled Association Between Coffee Intake After Diagnosis of Colorectal Cancer and Reduced Mortality and led by Yang Hu, found that colorectal cancer patients consuming 4 or more cups of coffee per day had a 52% lower chance of death.

8. Enhances DNA Repair

While coffee doesn’t repair DNA itself, it does have compounds that prevent DNA damage. That means that while it’s not a cure for cancer, it can help prevent its occurrence via DNA mutations.

A 2019 study conducted by scientists in Germany, Slovakia, and Norway concluded that consuming dark roast coffee has a protective effect on DNA, and this was true for both men and women. In the study, titled Consumption of a dark roast coffee blend reduces DNA damage in humans: results from a 4-week randomised controlled study, participants consumed just 500 mL of coffee per day to see results.

9. Lowers Risk Of Gallstones

Coffee can lower your risk of gallstones. 1999 research led by Dr. Michael Leitzmann at the Harvard School of Public Health found that men who consumed two or three cups of coffee per day had a 4% lower risk of developing gallstones, and that increased to 45% among men who consumed four cups of coffee per day.

The same researchers followed this up in 2002 with a study looking at the effects on women. The paper, entitled Coffee Intake Is Associated with Lower Risk of Symptomatic Gallstone Disease in Women, reported the same trend. Women who consumed four cups of coffee per day were 28% less likely to suffer from gallstones.

10. Lowers Risk Of Kidney Stones

Multiple studies have shown that coffee consumption can lower the risk of kidney stones. While the main reason for this is thought to be its caffeine content, coffee itself is more effective than simple caffeine pills, suggesting that the presence of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories in coffee also play a role.

A 2014 study titled Caffeine intake and the risk of kidney stones and authored by Ferraro et al. found that subjects consuming the most coffee had a roughly 30% lower chance of kidney stones. A follow-up study this year in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases found that even consuming as little as half a cup more coffee a day could lower your risk of kidney stones by 40%.

11. Perks Up Sperm

The caffeine in coffee peps up sperm in the same way it peps up people, according to 2003 research by Brazilian scientist Fabio Pasqualotto and his team at the University of Sao Paulo. They tested 750 men, all with different coffee preferences, and found that those who consumed the most coffee had the highest sperm motility. However, sperm concentration, mobility, and hormones were equal between mild and heavy coffee drinkers.

12. Lowers Risk Of Alzheimer’s Disease

Consuming coffee throughout middle age has been shown to lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease later in life. The research, conducted in 2010 by Marjo Eskelinen and Miia Kivipelto, was titled Caffeine as a protective factor in dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. They found that subjects who consumed three to five cups of coffee had a 65% lower chance of an Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis, which they credit to its caffeine, antioxidant, and insulin-regulating properties.

13. Lowers Risk Of Prostate Cancer

A 2011 study at the Harvard School of Public Health led by Lorelei Mucci found that increasing coffee consumption has a strong preventative effect against prostate cancer. According to the paper, entitled Coffee Consumption and Prostate Cancer Risk and Progression in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, men who consumed six or more cups of coffee had a 20% lower risk of developing prostate cancer and a 60% lower risk of lethal prostate cancer. The results held for both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, so caffeine is not considered to be the beneficial component in this case.

14. Protects Liver From Cirrhosis

Coffee has numerous beneficial effects on the liver, including protecting it from cirrhosis. These same benefits have not been observed with other caffeinated beverages, suggesting multiple chemical components within coffee are playing a role.

Ameta-study conducted in 2015 and headed by Fen Liu of Chongqing Medical University found that heavy coffee drinkers were less likely to develop cirrhosis than moderate coffee drinkers who were, in turn, more protected than non-coffee drinkers. The meta-analysis, titled Coffee Consumption Decreases Risks for Hepatic Fibrosis and Cirrhosis: A Meta-Analysis, pooled the data of 16 previous studies.

15. Fights Cardiovascular Diseases

Coffee can help prevent heart failure according to a 2021 study that analyzed the data from three large previous studies to determine dietary and lifestyle risk factors. The research, headed by Laura M. Stevens and titled Association Between Coffee Intake and Incident Heart Failure Risk, found that high coffee consumption was associated with a lower risk of heart failure in all cases. The mechanism by which coffee aids in heart health remains unclear, but the results are less impactful with decaf, suggesting that caffeine plays a role.

16. Makes You Smarter

Coffee can make you smarter, or at least it can make your brain more resilient and less prone to decay. That’s according to 2019 research from Simonetta Camandola titled Impact of Coffee and Cacao Purine Metabolites on Neuroplasticity and Neurodegenerative Disease. The study found that caffeine, a phytochemical, impacts neural network activity, enhances cognitive performance, and prevents degradation by diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and stroke. The likely mechanism for this is caffeine’s ability to block adenosine receptors.

17. Improves Good Cholesterol

Coffee can improve the function of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, which is colloquially known as the “good cholesterol” because it is associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease. In a 2010 paper titled Coffee Consumption Enhances High-Density Lipoprotein-Mediated Cholesterol Efflux in Macrophages, Harumi Uto-Kondo et al. showed that the plasma phenolic acids in coffee enhance the positive actions of HDL.

18. Great For Your Skin

Coffee is great for your skin in several ways. Consuming coffee is an excellent source of vitamin B3, which has been shown to prevent skin cancer in high-risk individuals. In research titled Oral Nicotinamide Prevents Common Skin Cancers in High-Risk Patients, Reduces Costs, author Phoebe Starr reported that a vitamin B3 supplement reduced the rate of new skin cancers by 23%.

There are also benefits to using ground coffee as an exfoliating scrub. It has been shown to perk up skin, eliminate dark circles under the eyes, and reduce the appearance of cellulite.

19. A Large Source Of Antioxidants

Coffee has long been touted for its high content of antioxidants, and there is plenty of research to support these claims. In 2013, Alexander Yashin and colleagues published a paper, Antioxidant and Antiradical Activity of Coffee, summarizing the antioxidant activity of coffee. They reported that coffee contains a large amount of antioxidants such as chlorogenic, caffeic, ferulic, and n-coumarinic acids, making it on par with or better than other beverages like tea, red wine, and cacao.

20. Helps Relieve Headaches

Coffee and headaches have a complicated relationship. Research has shown that migraine sufferers often fare worse when they consume caffeine, and regular caffeine users commonly become dependent and experience withdrawal headaches when they skip their daily coffee. However, coffee and other caffeinated beverages can help relieve certain types of headaches, which is why caffeine is present in headache medications like Excedrin.

In a 2008 paper titled Caffeine and headaches, Robert E. Shapiro explains in detail. Caffeine narrows blood vessels, restricting blood flow and relieving pain; it blocks adenosine receptors in the nervous system; and it can aid in the body’s absorption of pain medication.

21. Affects Estrogen Levels

Coffee can affect estrogen levels, according to a 2012 study titled Caffeinated beverage intake and reproductive hormones among premenopausal women in the BioCycle Study, but the way in which it affects the hormone varies by race. Head author Karen C. Schliep looked at over 250 women and found that coffee consumption increased estrogen levels in Asian women while lowering it in white women. The reason for this was unclear, but it doesn’t hold true for all caffeinated beverages, so it is something specific to coffee.

22. Lowers Risk Of Endometrial Cancer

Drinking coffee lowers the risk of endometrial cancer, in particular for overweight and obese women. A 2009 study titled Coffee drinking and risk of endometrial cancer – a population-based cohort study found that coffee consumption decreased the risk of developing endometrial cancer and that the risk decreased further with greater coffee consumption. For example, lead author Emilie Friberg reported that obese women were 20% less likely to present with endometrial cancer per cup of coffee consumed daily.

23. Good For Your Teeth

Although coffee has long been considered bad for your teeth due to its high acid content and tendency to leave stains, a 2014 study from Brazil showed that it has some positive impacts on dental health as well. The research was titled Antibacterial Effect of Coffee: Calcium Concentration in a Culture Containing Teeth/Biofilm Exposed to Coffea Canephora Aqueous Extract and headed by Dr. Andrea Antonio. The researchers treated teeth with a Robusta coffee extract and found that it inhibited the formation of dental biofilm, a leading cause of tooth decay and gum disease. Coffee’s natural antibacterial properties are credited for this result.

24. Preserves Your Muscles

Coffee has been shown to help preserve muscle mass and strength during aging, which reduces the chances of falls and injuries. The research, which was conducted on mice, was led by Jason Tallis and titled The effect of physiological concentrations of caffeine on the power output of maximally and submaximally stimulated mouse EDL (fast) and soleus (slow) muscle. The researchers looked at the diaphragm and the extensor digitorum longus muscle, because the former is used for breathing and the latter for walking. Caffeine was found to increase power in both cases, though the effect is weaker in the elderly.

25. Stimulates Hair Growth

Caffeine has been shown to be one of the most effective and safest treatments for androgenetic alopecia, the scientific term for the most common type of hair loss. Research has revealed that caffeine applied topically is as effective as drug based treatments, but with lower cost and fewer side effects. This research was summarized by J.M. Volker et al. in a review paper titled Caffeine and Its Pharmacological Benefits in the Management of Androgenetic Alopecia: A Review.

26. Keeps You Hydrated

A lot of people still consider coffee to be dehydrating due to the diuretic properties of caffeine, but this is in fact not the case. A study called Sucrose and Sodium but not Caffeine Content Influence the Retention of Beverages in Humans Under Euhydrated Conditions conducted by Stuart D.R. Galloway proved this point. The research was conducted on athletes hydrating before exercise and showed that while beverages containing sugar or sodium were more hydrating, caffeine had no negative consequences. Because coffee is 98% water, it is thus an excellent source of hydration.

27. Lowers Risk Of Stroke In Women

Coffee has long been known to lower the risk of stroke in women. A study published in 2009, titled Coffee Consumption and Risk of Stroke in Women, summarized the results of 24 years of research on the topic, involving over 80,000 women. Lead author Esther Lopez-Garcia and colleagues reported that women who consumed more than two cups of coffee a day had an 11% lower risk of stroke versus women who consumed less than a cup a month.

28. Reduces Muscle Soreness After Exercise

Coffee, and caffeine in particular, reduces muscle soreness after exercise, what is known to athletes and researchers as “delayed onset muscle soreness.” In a study titled The effect of caffeine ingestion on delayed onset muscle soreness, lead author Caitlin F. Hurley reported that participants who consumed caffeine an hour before exercise suffered significantly less soreness two and three days later versus those who consumed a placebo. Continuing caffeine consumption in the days following exercise also reduces muscle pain.

29. Helps With Your Memory

Coffee helps with long term memory, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University. In a study titled Post-study caffeine administration enhances memory consolidation in humans, Michael Yassa and his team reported that consuming caffeine immediately after studying led to improved memory recall and pattern separation 24 hours later. They opted to administer caffeine after studying, rather than before. This proves that the results aren’t due to increased attention during studying as a result of the stimulant, but rather due to memory itself.

30. Benefits Gastrointestinal Flora

Drinking coffee has a positive influence on gut microbiota, the microorganisms that live in the human digestive tract. Research conducted by Dr. Li Jiao found that those who consumed more coffee had more beneficial anti-inflammatory gut bacteria, like Faecalibacterium and Roseburia, as well as a richer gut microbiome overall. The results are believed to be primarily due to coffee’s caffeine content, but they did not rule out the role of other coffee components. The study was titled Caffeine Consumption and the Colonic Mucosa-Associated Gut Microbiota and published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

31. Protects Against Gout

A 2007 study headed by Hyon K. Choi and titled Coffee consumption and risk of incident gout in men: a prospective study found that men who drank 4 or 5 cups of coffee a day had a 40% lower chance of developing gout than those who did not. This is attributed not to caffeine but to chlorogenic acid, an antioxidant chemical found in coffee. Still, those who already have gout may find that their attacks worsen when they consume caffeine, so decaf is a better choice.

32. May Add Years To Your Life

Coffee may add years to your life thanks to its numerous health benefits. Researchers led by Youngyo Kim conducted a meta-analysis, Coffee consumption and all-cause and cause-specific mortality: a meta-analysis by potential modifiers, in which they looked at 40 previous studies incorporating nearly 4 million subjects. They found that consuming two to four cups of coffee a day reduced all-cause and cause-specific mortality, though consuming more coffee than that was no longer helpful.

33. Helps Meet Daily Dietary Fiber Needs

Coffee beans are very rich in dietary fiber, but as it turns out, brewed coffee can also help meet your daily dietary fiber needs. Researchers in Madrid, led by Fulgencio Saura-Calixto and Elena Díaz-Rubio, found that espresso, drip coffee, and instant coffee all contain soluble fiber. Their paper, titled Dietary fiber in brewed coffee, reported that coffee contains between 0.45 and 0.75 grams per 100 milliliters, with freeze-dried instant coffee being the most fiber rich option.

34. Keeps Your Bowel Healthy

Coffee keeps your bowel healthy in a number of ways. As already mentioned, it improves your gut microbiome and lowers the risk of colorectal cancer. It also helps to stimulate your bowels through numerous scientifically proven mechanisms. For example, caffeine makes your colon and intestinal muscles more active, and chlorogenic acids and other antioxidants may activate the bowels. Coffee also raises the levels of bowel-stimulating hormones like gastrin and cholecystokinin, according to a paper titled Effect of coffee on distal colon function by N.W. Read et al.

35. Improves Blood Circulation

The caffeine in coffee improves blood circulation, according to a study that measured blood flow in participants’ fingers after drinking either regular or decaf coffee. The research, titled Effect of caffeine contained in a cup of coffee on microvascular function in healthy subjects, was carried out by Masato Tsutsui and colleagues in Japan. They tested 27 men and found that those drinking the caffeinated coffee had a 30 percent increase in blood flow over a 75 minute period.

36. Prevents Ringing In The Ears

Coffee reduces the risk of tinnitus, the medical name for chronic ringing in the ears. A study done at the Harvard School of Health titled A Prospective Study of Caffeine Intake and Risk of Incident Tinnitus, helmed by Dr. Gary Curhan, found that women who drank 4 to 6 cups of coffee daily were 15% less likely to develop tinnitus versus those who consumed only 1 or 2 cups. The reason for this is unproven, but caffeine is known to stimulate both the central nervous system and the inner ear.

37. Lowers Risk For Type 2 Diabetes

Coffee is well-known for lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D), with many studies demonstrating the effect using both caffeinated and decaf coffee. Recently, researchers have gathered these into a meta-study, titled Caffeinated and Decaffeinated Coffee Consumption and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and a Dose-Response Meta-analysis to get a clearer picture. Lead author Ming Ding analysed over 1 million patients and nearly 50,000 cases of diabetes. It was found that drinking just a cup of coffee per day decreased the risk of developing T2D by 8%, and this increased steadily with more coffee consumption up to 6 cups per day, which reduced the risk by 33%.

38. Relieves Effects Of Asthma

Coffee relieves the effects of asthma due to its caffeine content. This is proposed to be because caffeine is chemically very similar to an asthma drug called theophylline, a bronchodilator. In a review paper titled Caffeine for asthma, a research team led by E.A. Barley analyzed six trials involving 55 people and found that even a low dose of caffeine could improve patients’ breathing for up to four hours.

39. Reduces The Risk Of Oral Cancer

A 2011 review conducted by Imad Al-Dakkak and published in the journal Evidence-Based Dentistry showed comprehensively that coffee reduces the risk of oral cancers. The paper, titled Tea, coffee, and oral cancer risk, reported that drinking caffeinated coffee lowered the risk of cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx. The results were considerably more pronounced in those drinking four or more cups of coffee per day, who saw a decreased risk of 39%, whereas drinking decaffeinated coffee or tea had a less clear impact.

40. Helps Burn Fat

Consuming coffee before exercise can help burn more fat, according to the study Caffeine increases maximal fat oxidation during a graded exercise test: is there a diurnal variation?, which was published in 2021. The researchers, led by Mauricio Ramirez-Maldonado, found that a dose of 3 mg/caffeine per kilogram of body weight resulted in increased fat burning during exercise. They also found that this effect was more pronounced in the afternoon than the morning.

41. Improves Physical Performance

There is now an abundance of evidence linking coffee to improved physical performance, primarily due to its caffeine content. Caffeine reduces fatigue by blocking adenosine receptors and peps you up by stimulating the release of fight-or-flight hormones. As just one example, the study Caffeine Improves Physical Performance During 24 h of Active Wakefulness, conducted by Tom M. McLellan et al, found that caffeine is an effective strategy to maintain physical performance during long periods of exertion without sleep.

42. Protects From Depression

Coffee can protect against depression in some cases, though there is contradictory evidence as well. A 2016 study Coffee, tea, caffeine and risk of depression: A systematic review and dose–response meta-analysis of observational studies, led by author Giuseppe Grosso, looked at nearly 350,000 subjects and found that heavy coffee drinkers had a lower incidence of depression than light coffee drinkers. The same result was found with tea and pure caffeine, but it was less strong, suggesting that some of the chemicals unique to coffee play a role, not just caffeine.

43. Helps Lose Weight

Coffee can help you lose weight through a variety of mechanisms, many of which have already been discussed. The caffeine provides more energy for a workout and aids in increased fat burning. It also reduces inflammation and post-exercise muscle soreness, making it easier and less painful to exercise more often. Coffee has also been shown to be an appetite suppressant.

A 2019 meta-analysis titled The effects of caffeine intake on weight loss: a systematic review and dos-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials summarized caffeine’s impact on weight loss by looking at 606 subjects from 13 previous studies. Lead author Reza Tabrizi reported that caffeine intake promoted weight, BMI, and body fat reduction.

Is Drinking Coffee Daily Beneficial?

Yes, drinking coffee daily is beneficial, because it conveys a number of health benefits. Coffee contains caffeine; a number of antioxidant molecules like chlorogenic, caffeic, ferulic, and n-coumarinic acids; anti-inflammatories; and many essential nutrients. As a result, regular consumption of coffee has been scientifically linked to improved health.

Coffee has been shown to prevent many common diseases, like cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. It also encourages a healthier lifestyle by providing energy for exercise, improving physical performance, and reducing post workout pain. Daily coffee consumption positively impacts the mind as well, having been shown to increase focus, make you smarter, and improve mental health.

Are Coffee And Cinnamon Beneficial Together?

Yes, coffee and cinnamon are beneficial together. Like coffee, cinnamon contains essential nutrients, including fiber, manganese, vitamin K, calcium, and iron, and it is rich in antioxidants. As a result, the coffee and cinnamon combination has been shown to reduce the incidence and severity of several diseases, including heart disease and diabetes. It also combats cold symptoms, both due to its nutrient content and soothing nature.

For those looking to lose weight, cinnamon coffee is an excellent choice. Both coffee and cinnamon can act as appetite suppressants, and the beverage will give you extra energy for exercise.

Are Coffee And Milk Beneficial Together?

Yes, coffee and milk are beneficial together. Milk contributes many of its own unique health benefits, such as calcium and protein, while research has proven that adding milk in no way reduces the antioxidants absorbed from coffee. Adding milk to coffee is especially useful if you suffer from acid reflux because the milk helps to neutralize the coffee’s acidity.

Another good reason to add milk to coffee is the taste. There is a reason that all the traditional Italian espresso drinks, like lattes and cappuccinos, use dairy milk. Its mild sweetness when heated is the perfect foil for espresso’s rich bitterness, and when steamed, milk is unique in its ability to form a silky smooth microfoam.

There are a few times adding milk to coffee may not be beneficial. If you’re trying to lose weight, be aware that milk will increase the calories of your drink, especially milk with a higher fat content. Also, if you’re drinking coffee to soothe a cold, it’s best to leave the dairy out of it. Milk is known to increase mucus production in some people.

Are Coffee And Coconut Oil Beneficial Together?

Yes, coffee and coconut oil are beneficial together, though not in all cases. Coconut oil in coffee has become very trendy in recent years, but not everyone will benefit from this combination.

If you are following a keto diet, which is high in fat and low in carbohydrates, coconut oil in coffee is a good combination. It helps maintain ketosis because coconut oil is rich in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which are absorbed and processed by the liver more rapidly than other fats.

The combination of coconut oil and caffeine is a potent one when it comes to energy and increased metabolism. There is evidence to suggest that adding coconut oil to your coffee will give you a bigger boost than caffeine alone, and you’ll be less likely to crash as the caffeine wears off.

Studies like Coconut oil consumption improves fat-free mass, plasma HDL-cholesterol and insulin sensitivity in healthy men with normal BMI compared to peanut oil, conducted in 2019, have shown that coconut oil can help raise levels of the good cholesterol, HDL, in the same way as coffee. So drinking them together may offer increased benefits.

The main disadvantage of adding coconut oil to coffee is its high caloric value, particularly for those trying to lose weight or follow a low fat diet. Two tablespoons of coconut oil adds 242 calories and 25 g of saturated fat. Often fans of the drink will avoid this issue by using it as a meal replacement, but this risks missing out on crucial nutrients found in a more well-rounded diet.

Is The Coffee Bean Healthy For Eating?

Yes, the coffee bean is healthy to eat, but only in moderation. Coffee beans are rich in antioxidants, caffeine, and fiber, and eating the bean gives you a more concentrated dose of these beneficial compounds than brewing coffee. However, it also makes it easier to overdose. Consuming too many coffee beans can lead to an upset stomach, sleep disturbance, heartburn, and anxiety, most of which are attributed to an excess of caffeine.

Plain coffee beans are dry and very bitter, making them unpleasant to eat and thus easy to moderate. But the popular chocolate-covered coffee beans are a far more appealing snack. They make it easy to eat more than you should, and the chocolate coating contributes yet more caffeine as well as fat and sugar.

Is Caffeine Healthy For The Body?

Yes, in the correct dosage, caffeine is healthy for the body. Many of the health benefits of coffee previously discussed are a result of coffee’s caffeine content. Caffeine has been shown to improve mental health, lower the risk of asthma and diabetes, improve physical performance, relieve headaches, lower the risk of kidney stones and gallstones, and help burn fat, among myriad other potential benefits. However, too much caffeine is not good for the body. It will lead to stomach upset and digestive issues, sleep disorders, and negative mental health consequences like increased anxiety.

Is Every Type Of Coffee Healthy?

Yes, every type of coffee is healthy, though not to the same extent. Many of the health benefits of coffee are a result of its caffeine content, so decaf coffee will not yield the same results. However, decaf coffee is still very healthy. It contains the same antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of coffee; the same essential nutrients and dietary fiber; and it is an even better hydrator. So decaf will still provide protection against diseases like cancer and gout, among others. And if you suffer from conditions that are exacerbated by caffeine, like anxiety or sleep disorders, decaf is an even healthier option.

Is Quitting Coffee Beneficial?

Yes, quitting coffee is beneficial in certain circumstances. Though in many cases, switching to decaf can have a similar effect. For some people, the idea of an addiction, even to a relatively healthy drug like caffeine, is worrisome. So quitting coffee can be a good way to break the addictive cycle. Some of the benefits of caffeine, like increased energy and stamina, will fade as your body adapts, so quitting coffee for a period of time is a good way to reset the body.

If you suffer from issues with heartburn, acid reflux, or digestion, coffee is likely to make them worse, and decaf coffee is no less acidic than caffeinated coffee. There are low acid coffees on the market to try, depending on the severity of your conditions, but tea may be the better choice. Likewise, if you find coffee is interfering with your sleep, causing increased anxiety, or resulting in mood swings, quitting will provide mental health benefits. Switching to decaf could provide the same effect.

If you suffer from high cholesterol, unfiltered coffee, like that made by a French press or Turkish style coffee, can contribute to the problem. These brewing methods leave the coffee oils in the finished cup. In this case, quitting coffee could be beneficial. Or you can switch to a brewing method in which the coffee is filtered through paper to remove the oils, like pour over or automatic drip coffee.

Related: Harms of Coffee