In the article we Why Should I Give Up Coffee? we pointed out that, besides its irresistible taste and aroma, coffee is a wonderful mental stimulant.  In addition, coffee has many medicinal properties which have been shown through many different studies in the last few years.  These studies had concluded that coffee can reduce the risk of Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, Gallstones, and Type 2 Diabetes, just to mention a few.  But if that was not enough to get you excited about getting your next cup of java, recent studies have revealed additional benefits.

For example, a new study called Biomarkers & Prevention, published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, shows that regular coffee drinkers have 39% less risk of head and neck cancer.  According to the study, people that drink four of more cups of coffee a day have significantly fewer cancers of the throat and mouth.

Other recent studies have shown other health benefits of drinking coffee, including:

• Prevention of Memory Deterioration
• Reduced Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
• Reduced Risk of Prostate Cancer
• Reduced Risk of Liver Cancer
• Protection Against Brain Tumors

Additionally, coffee is an excellent source of antioxidants which help reduce cell damage and aging.  According to Joe Vinson, lead author of a study on antioxidants conducted by the University of Scranton, in Pennsylvania, “Americans get more of their antioxidants from coffee than any other dietary source.  Nothing else comes close”.

Yes, coffee does have its downside, primarily due to caffeine, which can increase heart rate, blood pressure and affect sleep.  But each person metabolizes caffeine differently.  Some people may be unable to handle the side effects associated with the consumption of caffeine, but others seem to experience no side effects.  Yet others deal with any potential side effects by managing their coffee consumption, whether limiting the number of cups consumed per day, or avoiding drinking it later in the day to avoid any potential impact to their ability to sleep.

Overall, coffee does seem to have a positive net effect on your health as shown by so many different studies.  So if you enjoy this amazing beverage simply for its tantalizing aroma and taste, now you have even more reasons to “wake up and smell the coffee”.