A Cup of Coffee a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

Do you need a cup of coffee in the morning to function? You definitely are not alone. Caffeine is a drug that millions of Americans are consuming daily. Studies have proven that you do not have to feel guilty about consuming 200-300 milligrams of caffeine per day, which is around two to three cups. From the Harvard School of Public Health, Walter Willett suggests that coffee has many benefits and promotes longevity. These include decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, liver disease, stroke, type II diabetes, neurologic diseases, and suicide.

Caffeine is not necessarily the ingredient in coffee that is the most beneficial to disease fighting. Coffee beans contain an enormous amount of antioxidants and phytochemicals, called quinines, which fight free radicals in the body. Free radicals can lead to cellular damage throughout the body. If vital cells or molecules such as DNA are damaged, the risk of disease and cancers increase dramatically. Antioxidants actually remove free radicals and help the body fight a variety of diseases. Coffee is the leading source of antioxidants in American diets since the consumption rate is so high. Another major active ingredient in coffee is magnesium. Magnesium naturally effects blood sugar levels, which is thought to help fight type II diabetes. Before drinking eight cups of coffee in the morning, there are limits of caffeine intake. Too much caffeine can lead to sleep issues such as insomnia, anxiety, and heart palpitations.

Based off many research studies, the key to coffee intake is moderation. Two to three cups and day is the optimum amount to reap the benefits without over stimulating the body with caffeine. Drinking decaffeinated coffee can be an alternative since it still contains all of the antioxidants as caffeinated coffee, but without the adverse effects of caffeine. People can look forward to a cup of coffee and not feel guilty consuming the recommended amount.

Posted by: Cara Murphy (3) 

http://www.webmd.com/diet/the-buzz-on-coffee?page=1

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/11/16/456191657/drink-to-your-health-study-links-daily-coffee-habit-to-longevity

http://www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/antiox.html

https://www.google.com/search?q=Coffee&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiYiO3jyq_LAhUEXw8KHQf6Dl0Q_AUICCgC&biw=1190&bih=656#tbm=isch&q=coffee+beans&imgrc=PkUuqRu2eK1y9M%3A

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