You Have to Know about the Health Benefits and Risks of Coffee

Are you the type of person who just has to have your morning cup of coffee before you can get started on your day? If so, you've probably thought about the possible health consequences of drinking coffee. It may even cross your mind every time you pour yourself a cup, if you're anything like me.

Coffee tastes great and it provides some definite benefits to those who drink it, including significant boosts in energy. And there are hundreds of millions of people around the world who just wouldn't want to live without it.

Research has shown that drinking reasonable amounts of coffee makes a person feel more aware and focused, leading to increased productivity. If you feel yourself lagging behind at work, you might benefit from drinking a cup of coffee sometime.

It's clear that coffee can give us a mental boost, but unfortunately it's still unclear whether it has a positive effect, a negative effect, or no effect at all on physical health. Coffee drinkers are likely to insist that it's a harmless and innocent beverage, but others say that it can cause a variety of health problems.

Some research has shown that coffee does play a part in raising blood pressure levels when consumed regularly. It also increases heart rate, and these two effects together can frighten many people into avoiding coffee.

However, the same research points out that for such ill effects to be caused by coffee, an individual would have to consume large amounts over a long period of time. A cup a day, or something in that range, likely won't cause any health problems.

It seems that anti-oxidants are coming up more frequently when people discuss the health ramifications of coffee. Some more recent studies have shown that coffee beans contain anti-oxidants. It's not hard to believe that coffee could contain some helpful compounds, as it's made from all-natural coffee beans. We've known for awhile that red wine has similar health benefits.

Whatever your beliefs on coffee, it's still important to consume it in moderation, as with any food or beverage. Even if something hasn't been definitively proven to be unhealthy, it's still easy to overindulge and have too much of one thing. Always be careful with stimulants such as coffee, especially as you grow older.