If your morning is not complete without one or more cups of coffee, you are not alone. Millions of people begin their day with a steaming cup of brewed coffee because it helps wake them up and prepare them for the day ahead. If you are a coffee drinker, it may help to know the benefits and harmful effects of your morning cup so you are able to make informed and healthy beverage choices in the future.
Antioxidant Content
Your diet should consist of foods and beverages that contain antioxidants, such as red and deep blue fruits and dark green and orange vegetables. Antioxidants are substances that prevent oxidation of cells, which leads to harmful free radicals in your body. A cup of coffee also contains antioxidants, such as chlorogenic acid and melanoidins, that may protect your health, the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry" notes. Consuming plenty of antioxidants reduces your risk of type 2 diabetes and Parkinson's disease. The Harvard School of Public Health reminds you that moderate intake of coffee is all you need to get these benefits, so stick to six or fewer 8-oz. servings of coffee per day.
May Prevent Some Types of Cancer
Many people are diagnosed with cancer each year, and scientists are continuing to search for a cure. Your diet plays an important role in how likely you are to develop cancer of any kind. The Harvard School of Public Health reports that coffee can reduce your risk of suffering from colon, breast and rectal cancers. If you drink coffee, you are also 50 percent less likely to develop liver cancer than those who do not drink coffee, the Harvard School of Public Health adds.
May Raise Cholesterol Levels
High cholesterol levels are linked to a variety of negative health conditions, including cardiovascular disease. Coffee contains a substance called cafestol that encourages the increase of LDL cholesterol, which is the dangerous type. The Harvard School of Public Health notes that preparing coffee with a paper filter will reduce or eliminate the cafestol in your cup. Drinking unfiltered coffee and coffee drinks, such as lattes, do not reduce the cafestol in your drink and may lead to an increase in your cholesterol levels.
May Raise Blood Pressure
A cup of coffee has enough caffeine in it to temporarily raise your blood pressure. MayoClinic.com notes that the caffeine in two or three cups of coffee can raise the top number of your blood pressure reading by up to 14 mL of mercury. The bottom number can be increased by up to 13 mL of mercury. While caffeine may or may not have a long-term effect on your blood pressure, if you already have high blood pressure, MayoClinic.com recommends limiting your daily intake to 200 mg or less.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Coffee and Health: What Does the Research Say?; May 2010
- Harvard School of Public Health; Ask the Expert: Coffee and Health
- Harvard School of Public Health; Coffee Health Benefits: Coffee May Protect Against Disease; February 2006
- "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry"; In Vitro and Ex Vivo Antihydroxyl Radical Activity of Green and Roasted Coffee; Daglia M, Racchi, et al; March 2004
- MayoClinic.com; Caffeine: How Does It Affect Blood Pressure?; Sheldon G. Sheps; November 2009
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