Coffee has been reported to have a number of health benefits for people with depression, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Despite these benefits, it is not always clear whether decaf coffee can be as beneficial as regular coffee. Many of the psychological benefits of coffee only apply to people who drink regular coffee. Decaf coffee may, however, help a number of conditions.
Lower Risk of Diabetes
People who drink decaf coffee on a regular basis have a lower risk of getting Type 2 diabetes compared to people who do not drink coffee. The New York Times describes a study of coffee drinkers that shows that habitual coffee consumption is associated with a 50 percent decrease in the incidence of Type 2 diabetes. This effect was independent of the caffeine content of the coffee consumed as decaf coffee was also associated with a lower rate of diabetes. According to this report, coffee contains high levels of antioxidants that help to protect cells from damage that causes diabetes. Coffee also contains chlorogenic acid, a chemical that can help to keep blood glucose levels under control. In this study, the amount of coffee consumed greatly influenced diabetes risk. People who drank more than six cups of coffee each day were at a significantly lower risk of getting diabetes than people who only drink two or fewer cups per day. At that quantity, it's extra beneficial that the lowered risk can be achieved with reduced amounts of caffeine intake.
Decreased Incidence of Cancer
Decaf coffee contains antioxidants that can help to prevent a number of diseases associated with aging, including cancer. A report by MSNBC explains that people who drink regular as well as decaf coffee are less likely to get colon cancers than non-coffee drinkers. In addition to having antioxidant properties, coffee can also increase the processing of material in the digestive tract to limit exposure of you gut to dietary carcinogens. Women who drink coffee may also have a decreased risk of developing breast cancer.
Less Death From Heart Disease
The link between coffee drinking and heart disease is controversial as some studies have shown that drinking decaf coffee can raise your cholesterol levels. Despite this potential increase in cholesterol levels, decaf coffee drinkers may suffer a lower overall incidence of death from heart disease than non-coffee drinkers. A report in Science Daily explains that middle-aged women who drink two or more cups of coffee each day, including decaf, have a 25 percent less chance of heart disease compared to women who do not use coffee. Interestingly, coffee had no effect on heart disease survival for men in this study.
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