Do you find it impossible to get through your daily routine without that morning cup of coffee? No worries. Recent studies are proving that moderate coffee consumption has more health benefits than risks.

Cancer. Researchers have found that coffee has anti-cancer properties(anti-oxidants). Coffee drinkers were 50 per cent less likely to develop liver, breast, colon and rectal cancers than non-coffee drinkers.

Diabetes. Moderate to heavy coffee drinkers maybe half as likely to develop diabetes as light or non-coffee drinkers. It may be due to ingredients in coffee that decrease blood sugar levels. Also, drinking coffee increases your basal metabolic rate, which may ward off Type II Diabetes.

Gallstones. Coffee decreases the cholesterol content of the bile produced by the liver, which reduces the risk of developing gall bladder disease.

Parkinson’s Disease. Coffee appears to protect men, but not women from Parkinson’s Disease. It may be because estrogen and caffeine require the same enzyme. The estrogen utilizes the catalyst, so the caffeine can not access it.

Exercise Endurance. Coffee drinkers demonstrate improved endurance in long-duration physical activities.

Cardiac Effects. The American Heart Association released a series of studies this month that demonstrates some health benefits for coffee drinkers. One study included more than 3000 participants over 20 years and found no link between moderate coffee consumption and atherosclerosis(commonly referred to as hardening of the arteries). The participants included men, women, various races, smokers and non-smokers, whose daily coffee intake ranged from zero to more than four cups per day.

Another study demonstrated that coffee drinkers have an actual decrease in the risk of hospitalization for abnormal heart rhythms. Participants who drank four or more cups per day had an 18 per cent lower risk of hospitalization for atrial fibrillation(most common arrhythmia) than those who weren’t coffee drinkers. It remains unclear as to why coffee would prevent heart rhythm abnormalities, as caffeine does cause some people to become anxious or jittery. Preliminary theories include the possibilities that coffee drinkers may exercise more, or have healthier diets.

There was a link between coffee consumption and elevated blood pressure, but it was considered only a mild effect. The results were from six studies that included approximately 172,000 participants. The report demonstrated that drinking one to three cups of coffee per day slightly increased the risk of high blood pressure.

Despite all the recently discovered health benefits, coffee can aggravate certain conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Colitis, and certain psychiatric conditions. Patients should discuss their coffee/caffeine intake with their primary care physician if they have any questions or concerns.