Health Benefits of Coffee?

Coffee: More Than Just a Beverage

Coffee is one of the world’s most consumed beverages, derived from the roasted seeds of the Coffea plant, a genus belonging to the Rubiaceae family. These evergreen shrubs primarily originate from the tropical regions of Africa, although a few species are also found growing in Asia.

Each year, the world consumes approximately 10 billion kilograms of coffee. Reflecting a notable rise in popularity, Bangladesh has climbed 20 ranks over the past decade to currently stand at 111th out of 140 countries in terms of overall coffee consumption.

Health Impact: From Skepticism to Support

Despite early research suggesting potential negative effects, modern scientific evidence overwhelmingly supports the health benefits of coffee. According to Dr. Frank Hu, Chair of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, coffee can indeed be part of a healthy diet. On April 5, 2021, he stated:

“For most people, moderate coffee consumption can be incorporated into a healthy diet.”

Dr. Hu’s research indicates that drinking 2–5 cups of coffee per day is associated with a reduced risk of several serious health conditions, including:

• Type 2 diabetes

• Heart disease

• Liver and endometrial cancers

• Parkinson’s disease

• Depression

Moreover, regular coffee drinkers may also experience a lower risk of premature death.

More Reasons to Sip

🧬 DNA Protection

Dark-roasted coffee has been found to reduce DNA strand breakage, a process that naturally occurs in the body. If not properly repaired, broken DNA strands can lead to cancer or tumor development.

🧠 Neuroprotective Effects

Consuming two cups of coffee daily may help protect against Alzheimer’s disease, supporting better brain health as we age.

🧻 Colon Cancer Prevention

Globally, 1 in 23 women is at risk of developing colon cancer during their lifetime. Research indicates that both regular and decaffeinated coffee consumption may reduce this risk by up to 26%.

🌞 Skin Cancer Reduction

A 2015 study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute followed the coffee-drinking habits of over 447,000 people for a period of 10 years. It found that individuals who consumed four or more cups of caffeinated coffee daily had a 20% lower risk of developing melanoma, compared to those who drank decaf or no coffee at all.