Today is International Coffee Day (pretty convenient that it falls on what feels like the sleepiest Monday ever!)—so let’s just take a look at some of the research that says having a cup of java might actually be good for you.
It may give your memory a boost. A study found that drinking 200 milligrams of caffeine—about the size of a “tall” at Starbucks—could help you remember subtle details.
It could help decrease your risk for type 2 diabetes. Recently, researchers reviewed more than 25 studies involving coffee and found that people who drank the most joe were up to 30 percent less likely to develop diabetes than those who drank the least amount of coffee. Why? The researchers say that caffeine has been linked to lower weight and faster metabolism—two factors in diabetes risk.
The smell alone may quell stress. A study of sleep-deprived, stressed-out rats found that those who sniffed coffee odors demonstrated actual changes in the brain proteins associated with stress.
It may help cut your risk of some kinds of cancer. Coffee’s caffeine content may play a role in protecting against skin cancer by blocking a protein enzyme in the skin. It may also help provide protection against endometrial and colorectal cancers—and could cut the risk of liver cancer by about 40 percent.
It has antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Coffee was named the No. 1 source of antioxidants in a study from the University of Scranton, but the drink also contains vitamins B2 and B5, manganese, potassium, magnesium, and niacin—all of which are essential nutrients.
Are you drinking coffee today?