It turns out the billions of coffee drinkers around the world may have been getting more than a morning perk from that cup of rich, flavorful coffee they’ve been enjoying all this time. Extensive medical research has shown that coffee may have an array of health benefits for people with a variety of conditions. Specifically, coffee has potential health benefits for diabetics, people with or at risk of cancer, or people with memory retention problems.
Health Benefits of Coffee for Diabetics
Type 2 diabetes is believed to be linked to the reduced activity of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) which is a protein that regulates your body’s testosterone and estrogen. That delicious cup of coffee you’re drinking is helping to increase your body’s levels of SHBG, thus helping to prevent Type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, a chemical in coffee called quinines can cause your body to become more sensitive to insulin. In turn, this means that less insulin is required for your body to properly regulate its blood sugar levels. Inversely, a diabetic’s cells are less sensitive to insulin which requires the pancreas to work harder to produce more.
Health Benefits of Coffee for Cancer
While genetics and several other factors play into a patient’s chances of developing different types of cancer, drinking coffee has been shown to have preventative effects on a variety of cancers. According to LiveScience.com, studies with over 5,000 participants showed regular coffee drinking helped protect women against multiple forms of breast cancer and reduce their chances of developing it by 57%. Other studies review a reduced risk of anywhere from 20-60% for men developing prostate cancer.
Health Benefits of Coffee for Memory Retention
Moderate doses of caffeine have been found to improve short-term memory retention in a number of research projects. Several studies have even shown regular coffee drinking reduces the chance of the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease.
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As with any medical-related findings, nothing is fully proven and all data gathered are the result of a controlled test. No one will be able to speak to your individual health better than your doctor. While these findings have been repeated through multiple studies, they represent but a fraction of coffee drinkers as a whole. Before you begin altering your diet for health reasons, be sure to consult a medical professional, but don’t be scared to enjoy that cup of cappuccino as well!
