Coffee May Lower Risk of Heart Disease, Diabetes and Death

Do you start your day off with a cup of hot coffee? Well, you aren't alone. It's estimated that more than half of adults in the United States drink at least one cup of coffee daily. While most people drink it for its delicious flavor and pick-me-up, it may offer some surprising health benefits as well.

Researchers from the National Cancer Institute are now saying that people who drink five cups of coffee per day have a lower risk of developing heart disease and diabetes, as well as a lower risk of early death. For the study, researchers analyzed data from 90,317 adults, all of whom had no previous history of cancer or heart disease. Researchers followed this group over the course of a decade, monitoring their health and coffee intake from 1998 to 2009.

At the end of the study, researchers determined that participants who drank coffee on a daily basis were less likely to die prematurely than participants who did not drink the beverage. More specifically, participants who drink between two and three cups per day had an 18% lower risk of early death.

So, how is something as simple as coffee able to protect against early death? The study's lead author Dr. Loftfield attributes its health benefits to its anti-inflammatory properties. Coffee works to reduce inflammation within the body, relieving pressure on arteries and blood vessels that may otherwise contribute to heart disease and death.

"Although coffee drinking has also been inversely associated with incidence of certain cancers, like liver, in epidemiological studies, we did not observe an association between cancer and overall mortality," said Dr. Loftfield. "This may be because coffee reduces mortality risk for some cancers but not others."

Of course, this isn't the only study that shines light on the health benefits of coffee. Other studies have linked coffee consumption to reduces risk of kidney stones and liver disease.

It's important to note that coffee should be consumed in moderation. Researchers from this study found that participants who consumed more than five cups per day did not have any significant health benefits. Therefore, the benefits of coffee are only available to individuals who consume the beverage in moderation.