Unexpected Perks of Coffee Consumption

(CBS)  Your daily cup of java may deliver some unexpected health benefits. Studies have shown it may lower your risk for Type II diabetes and certain types of cancer (colon, mouth and throat), and protect against heart disease and cavities.

Dr. Alanna Levine, a primary care physician, said on "The Early Show" researchers aren't sure exactly why coffee has these benefits, but speculated that perhaps the coffee has antioxidant properties.

Coffee a Health Super-Drink?

"(The benefits are) shown in both decaf and regular coffee. It may not be the caffeine but antioxidants can decrease inflammation and cell damage," she said. "You don't have to feel guilty grabbing that cup of joe in the morning."

However, Levine added moderation is the key to maximizing the benefits of coffee.

"I wouldn't go chugging coffee all day long to decrease the risks of cancer," she said. "There are side effects of drinking coffee. I wouldn't advocate a constant infusion of coffee."

Also, Levine said certain people, such as diabetics, pregnant women and people who have trouble sleeping, should limit their coffee intake. Pregnant women, she added, should drink only one or two cups a day.

[medpie]

Drinking at least three cups of coffee (or tea) per day reduces your risk of type II diabetes by 42% according to one study. If true, that is pretty impressive.

http://www.medpie.com/nutrition/in-the-news/coffee.html

[stn_sage]

Let me guess, Dr Levine is heavily invested in 'coffee futures', right?

For a liquid that supposedly fights cavities, it certainly stains teeth!

How does 'the good doctor' account for that?!

[rykatspop]

years ago, in my math class for a liberal arts degree, the textbook had a comment about statistics: "Lies, lies, and more lies." I've never forgotten the point. We can look at the recent revelations about scientists twisting the data on global warming in their e-mails (but I do think something is in play on warming). Yeah, I know a number of former coffee drinkers who slurp up tea now. Coffee is on the way out, tea is in. This smells fishy alright.

[Zann-Zel]

At the young age of 47 I'm finally starting to grow up and drink coffee but I have to drown it with so much cream and sugar I'm not sure its still healthy. My mother drank it every day and had diabetes, heart disease, cancer and false teeth from too many cavities! But hey I think I'll just believe these people 'cuz I want to! : )

[bubbadubba]

Baloney.
Every single person that I know that got any of those diseases or conditions were coffee drinkers.
Guess Starbucks sales are down?
NEVER TRUST ANYTHING YOU SEE OR HEAR ON THE NEWS - They are paid to promote things.

[doctor_know]

You don't understand statistics do you....

The fact that your small sample of friends with cancer drank coffee is meaningless -- The researchers are talking about small differences in large populations of people.

[Bayou123]

That's good, I love my Maxwell House.

[actornaught]

I gage that i've had enough coffee when i can't keep it from sloshing out of the mug and i make Barney Fife look calm & collected...

[muffinguy51]

I first heard about this about 3 years ago and looked into it. The coffee bean does have quite rich antioxidant properties as that it is not a bean at all but rather a berry. Also, 6 cups sounds like a significant amount of coffee to consume, but you must consider that for whatever reason, coffee "cups" are 6 oz., not 8. Taking that into account, a Tall coffee at Starbucks is 12 oz. and a Venti is 20 oz. We all may be closer to drinking 6 cups per day than we might otherwise think.

[pollroller1]

OH YEAH BABY!!!!! Sorry, I've had too much coffee this mourning.