Study: Drinking Lots of Coffee Isn't Bad for Your Health

Consumed by more than half of the United Stated adult population on a daily basis, and 25% on an occasional basis, coffee is one of the world's most popular beverages.

Up until now, however, the general consensus in the medical community has been that overconsumption of coffee leads to a variety of adverse health effects, increasing the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and other conditions. According to a new study, though, this isn't necessarily true.

For the study, researchers analayzed more than 740 existing studies on caffeine, paying close attention to whether or not overconsumption led to health problems. So, what did they find? Researchers found that consuming 400 mg of caffeine -- about the same amount as four cups of coffee -- was safe for adults. Therefore, as long as you keep your consumption of coffee to no more than four cups, you shouldn't experience any adverse health effects.

For pregnant women, though, researchers found the maximum amount of caffeine that was safe to consume as about 300 mg, or three cups of coffee. 

Caffeine is the most common and widely used psychoactive substance in the world. It's been linked to heart disease, high blood pressure, stress and dementia. These effects only occur when consumed in excess. And this study suggests that keeping your consumption levels under 3-4 cups of coffee should prevent them from occurring.

When preparing your coffee, it's important to avoid large amounts of sugar or creamer. Coffee itself isn't necessarily bad. When you pour in a heap of sugar or creamer, though, it's a totally different story. Some experts recommend sweetening coffee with coconut oil as a healthier alternative to sugar. And instead of creamer, try adding skim milk or almond milk to your coffee.

"Also, this provides the research community with data and valuable evidence to support the development and execution of future research on caffeine safety that will impact public health. We concluded that the previously-defined levels of caffeine intake in a healthy caffeine consumer (400mg) were not associated with overt, adverse effects," wrote the study's lead author and researcher.

For millions of men and women, drinking a cup of coffee is a part of their normal morning routine. The caffeine provides a boost of energy, helping them fight fatigue and get going in the early morning hours. While true, researchers say that exercise can be just as effective at combating early-morning fatigue.

This study was published in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology.