Nov. 21, 2023 | Here’s something to consider as you are downing that one of many cups of coffee you will likely consume today. The average coffee drinker in the United States consumes between two and three cups of coffee a day, putting us at 25^th on the list of countries that drink the most coffee per capita. According to the National Coffee Association, 40 percent of Americans add milk or cream to their coffee while 4 percent of coffee drinkers use milk alternatives like dairy-free creamer. Surprisingly, 42.9 percent of Americans report that they drink coffee, not for the energy boost, but because they like the taste. Coffee hasn’t always been popular, however. In 1746, the Swedish government banned coffee along with coffee paraphernalia, with cops confiscating cups and dishes. King Gustav III even ordered convicted murderers to drink coffee while doctors monitored how long the cups of joe took to kill them, which was great for convicts and boring for the doctors.

Nov. 21, 2023 | Would you like a little antioxidant with your coffee? Most Americans would probably be surprised to know that besides the jolt that they get from their coffee, it’s also a good source of disease-preventing compounds. Coffee beans contain antioxidants called quinines, which become more potent after roasting. According to the American Chemical Society, coffee is the leading source of antioxidants in American diets, mostly because we drink so much of it. This type of antioxidant, along with the magnesium found naturally in coffee, affect blood sugar levels and are thought to be responsible for the link to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. A 2013 analysis of 36 studies involving more than a million people conducted by researchers at Harvard University found that even heavy coffee consumption did not increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and that three to five cups of coffee daily provided the most protection against cardiovascular disease.

Nov. 21, 2023 | The average American adult consumes about two eight-ounce cups of coffee a day, which can contain around 280 milligrams of caffeine. For most young, healthy adults, caffeine doesn’t appear to noticeably affect blood sugar, or glucose, levels, and consumption of up to 400 milligrams a day appears to be safe. Some research studies suggest that drinking coffee, whether it is caffeinated and decaffeinated may actually reduce your risk of developing diabetes. If you already have diabetes, however, the impact of caffeine on insulin action may be associated with higher or lower blood sugar levels. For some people with diabetes, about 200 milligrams of caffeine, or the equivalent of one to two eight-ounce cups of plain, brewed coffee, may cause this effect. Caffeine affects every person differently. If you have diabetes or you’re struggling to control your blood sugar levels, limiting the amount of caffeine in your diet may provide a benefit.

Nov. 21, 2023 | A number of studies conducted in recent years found that drinking more coffee might reduce the kind of liver damage that’s associated with overindulging in food and alcohol. An article published in the journal Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics in 2016 took into consideration data from nine previously published studies with a total of more than 430,000 participants and found that drinking two additional cups of coffee a day was linked to a 44 percent lower risk of developing liver cirrhosis. Researchers at Southampton University in the United Kingdom did a pooled analysis of average coffee consumption across earlier studies to see how much adding two additional cups each day might influence the odds of liver disease. Combined, the studies included 1,990 patients with cirrhosis. In eight of the nine studies analyzed, increasing coffee consumption by two cups a day was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of cirrhosis.

Nov. 21, 2023 | Many of the health benefits associated with coffee are due to caffeine, a naturally occurring stimulant found in coffee beans. The amount of caffeine in a cup of coffee can vary, depending on factors ranging from the type of bean to how it’s brewed. Caffeinated coffee affects individuals differently, based on heredity, gender, metabolism and a person’s coffee drinking habits. Despite what many may believe, there is no nutritional need for caffeine and it will not reduce the effects of alcohol on the human body. An eight-ounce cup of brewed coffee contains between 95 and 200 milligrams of caffeine while a specialty drink like a latte or mocha may contain as much as 175 milligrams. It’s a good idea to look at how much caffeine you consume in a typical day, individuals who consume more than 500 milligrams a day may want to consider cutting back. However, beware of possible withdrawal symptoms, which can include drowsiness, headaches and irritability.