Coffee, a health food

I normally drink several cups of coffee every morning. That may be one of my healthier habits. From The Telegraph today:

For most of us, drinking coffee is an essential part of our morning ritual, either glugging down a mug before we head out the door or picking one up on the go. The near instant energy boost and spike in alertness is enough reason to drink it. But the health benefits are also ample. Research has shown that it can enhance our brain, heart and gut health. ....

As we age, our muscles progressively deteriorate by around five per cent a decade after age 30, causing us to become more weak and frail and leaving us more vulnerable to falls and fractures.

But researchers, who looked at data on coffee intake and muscle mass among more than 8,000 adults in the US, found that those who consumed at least two mugs of coffee per day (or 240ml) had around a tenth more muscle compared to those who drank none. ....

• Brain health Starting your day with a hit of caffeine boosts our focus and alertness in the short-term but it’s also been linked to improved cognitive health as we get older, including better memory and attention...
• Heart health ...One study found that, compared to people who didn’t drink coffee, for every cup of coffee drunk per week, there was a 7 per cent drop in the risk of heart failure and an 8 per cent reduction in stroke risk. ....
• Gut health Having a diverse range of microbes living in your gut is the cornerstone of good gut health and coffee drinkers tend to have more diversity than non-coffee drinkers....
• Mental health ...[C]offee seems to have long-lasting mental health effects. One review found that the risk of depression was a quarter lower among those drinking four-and-a-half cups a day, compared to those who had less than one cup. ....
• Cancer Studies have reported that certain cancers, including those affecting the liver, womb and mouth, are less common among coffee drinkers. ....
• Type 2 diabetes A healthy weight, exercise and nutritious diet are the most evidence-based approaches for reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes but drinking coffee could also offer some protection. One review found that people who drank one cup daily were eight per cent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes, compared to non-coffee drinkers. ....

Emily Craig, "Why coffee is good for your muscles too," The Telegraph, Sept. 21, 2024.