Health Benefits of Coffee

Who among us has not been cautious of our caffeine consumption. Who among us has not been urged by friends and family to resign ourselves to a single cup. Who among us has not tread down crumbling roads in fear and trembling of the dark elixir we crave. “No! Stop! It’s too acidic!” Or “Please don’t! It’s a carcinogen!” Or “Caffeine is bad for your health!”

But fear no more coffee lovers, Ol’ Man Dilworth is here to dispel these worries from your hearts and minds. Drink! Drink till your heart’s content! Let coffee flow from full pots into overflowing cups!

Where does the stigma come from?

In 1991 the World Health Organization designated coffee as a possible carcinogen, and for the next 25 years coffee drinkers drank their morning cups with measure and guilt. In 2016, coffee was exonerated from the harmful label. Studies emerged that linked the beverage with a decreased risk in certain cancers once the history of people who smoked cigarettes regularly was considered properly.

So, throw that stigma out the window! Coffee is here to stay, for your brain activity and your health! Rejoice! It’s the only drug that’s also a super food!

What's in coffee that makes it healthy?

Once coffee beans are roasted, over 1000 different compounds are developed. Phytochemical-derived compounds that include: chlorogenic acid/lignans, alkaloids, polyphenolics, terpenoids, melanoidins, vitamins and metals. Some of these also include flavonoid quercetin, chlorogenic acid, caffeine, the alkaloid norharman also called beta-carboline, and the terpenoid cafestrol.

These compounds interact with receptors in our brains (particularly NR4A1), bacteria in our gut, and have effects on our kidneys and other organs as they pass through our body. Of course, no one can say for certain, “If you drink this much coffee, it will have this affect on you with certainty.” But many different studies have shown very respectable correlations between moderate coffee consumption (decaffeinated and caffeinated) and lower risk of various diseases, cancers, and body and brain conditions.

How much is too much coffee?

The average 8oz cup of coffee contains 95mg of caffeine. Moderate daily amount is 400mg; between 3-5 cups. Across various studies, the benefits of coffee and the caffeine in it peak at around 700mg. That is to say, if you’re drinking more than 7 cups of coffee every day to maximize the amount of health benefits, you’re wasting your time. Now, if you’re drinking it simply to enjoy, go right head! We encourage that, being a coffee company after all. So, there is too little coffee to get all the benefits, but there also is a most helpful amount. Of course, if you’re including sugar and cream in each of your 5 cups, you’re most likely reversing any health benefits that your body could be receiving.

Coffee has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer in a few different forms.

Various polyphenols in coffee have been shown to prevent cancer growth in animal studies. This is shown by increased antioxidant response and reduced inflammation.

Coffee consumption has also been shown to reduce the risk of colon cancer.

Coffee could protect gut biomes and decrease the risk of colon cancer, acting as an aryl hydrocarbon ligand.

Caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee has been associated with reduced risk of liver cancer.

A moderate amount of daily coffee consumption has been shown to offer protective benefits for post-menopausal breast cancer.

It's also been shown to reduce the risk of contracting type 2 diabetes.

Ingestion of caffeine can increase blood sugar in the short term, but in the long term can have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Polyphenols like magnesium in coffee improve effectiveness of insulin and glucose metabolism.

Decreased risk of diabetes by 12% for every 2 cups of coffee. From 200mg – 700mg.

Type 2 diabetes is 90-95% of diabetes cases in the world, people who drink 4 or more cups per day show a 50% lower risk of type 2 diabetes.

Cafestol has been found to increase insulin secretion.

Coffee could have an effect on depression as well.

Certain polyphenols could reduce inflammation cells and have neurological benefits that act as an antidepressant.

Risk of suicide shown to be reduced by up to 50% drinking 4 or more cups of coffee per day: caffeine being the biggest factor.

Coffee has positive effects on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's as well.

Fundamentally Parkinsons is caused by low dopamine levels. Consistent evidence shows that higher consumption of caffeine is associated with a lower risk of developing Parkinson's. Caffeine has been shown to protect cells in the brain that produce dopamine.

Drinking 3-5 cups of coffee a day at age 50 was associated with a significantly decreased risk of Alzheimer’s disease later in life, but larger studies are needed.

Coffee could also increase your lifespan!

Drinking 1 cup of coffee per day reduced risk of death by 3% and 3 cups by 13%. Overall, coffee, decaf or not, was associated with a reduced risk of death.

So bottoms up, good people!

Morning, noon or night, Dilworth roasts great coffee for every occasion. Drink, drink, drink to your heart’s content! Along with the numerous health benefits, we think it tastes pretty darn good as well. So keep on sippin’, folks.