How Important Is That Cup of Coffee?  More Than You Think!

I can’t speak for anyone other than myself, of course, but I cannot operate without at least two cups of coffee in the morning.
(Full disclosure:  I regularly only drink two beverages, coffee and Diet Coke. Yes, I know Diet Coke is not good for me.  I get told that on a regular basis by people who are concerned for my health. I have to ask, though … where was that information thirty years ago when I got hooked on the stuff?)
But those cups of coffee in the morning are vital to my continued well-being – nay, to my continued existence.  And lest you think that this rambling of an old man is silly, I can back up what I say with some pretty solid medical evidence. May my doctors – who are also dear friends – forgive me for what I’m about to say.
According to no less an authority than the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, one to two cups of coffee every day is good for you. Coffee, for instance, is chock full of substances that may help guard against Alzheimer’s disease and heart problems.
Coffee contains more than caffeine, you know. It also contains antioxidants and other active substances that may protect against diseases and reduce internal inflammation. Or so says Johns Hopkins, and who am I to argue with them?  (I do have a doctorate, but it isn’t in medicine.)
Recent studies conducted by this prestigious medical school lead to the notation of nine areas in which drinking coffee regularly give benefit.  Those are:
You could live longer. Studies find that coffee drinkers are less likely to die from coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease.
Your body may process sugar better. Studies have shown that people who drink the brew are less likely to get type-2 diabetes.
You’re less likely to develop heart failure. Heart failure is the condition in which a weakened heart has trouble pumping blood throughout the body, and if you consume one or two cups of coffee a day (like I do) such a condition is warded off a little bit more.
You’re less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease. Caffeine is not only linked to a lower chance of developing Parkinson’s, according to Johns Hopkins, but it can also help those who already have it better control their movements.
 Your liver will love you for the rest of your life. It turns out that coffee – both regular and decaf – have a protective effect on the liver. Research has shown that those who quaff the daily cup or two o’ Joe are likely to have liver enzyme levels within a healthy range, more so than people who don’t partake of the brew.
Your DNA will be stronger. Breakage in DNA strands is decreased in people who enjoy a daily dose of dark roast coffee.  The breakages are natural, but can lead to some nasty stuff like cancer or tumors if the cells don’t repair those breakages.  Coffee, it seems, does a lot to help keep that from happening.
Your chance of developing colon cancer goes way down with coffee. Those same researchers who found out all this other good stuff learned that a cup or two of coffee a day leads to a notable percentage drop in the development of colon cancer.
 You may lower your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. The caffeine in two cups of coffee has been found to provide a rather significant level of protection against developing Alzheimer’s, or dementia in general.  (It must work … I turn 68 soon and haven’t had too many issues in that area.)
You’re not as likely to suffer a stroke. Lower stroke risk is noted amongst those who enjoy a cup of Juan Valdez’ finest coffee beans.
(I’m not going to tell you who Juan Valdez was; you’re going to have to look him up on your own. Just know that I appreciate all he does on a daily basis.)
If you’re one of those whose opinion is swayed by research, consider this: Back in 1991, coffee was added to the long, long list of possible carcinogens (things that can cause cancer) by the World Health Organization.  But in 2016, it was removed from the list.  Why? Because research showed that coffee was not in any way connected to increasing risks of cancer; rather, it helped decrease the risk.
In other words, coffee is good for you.
So belly up to the coffee bar and order up that second cup o’ Joe. Doctor it up any way you like, and enjoy it with the knowledge that you’re doing something that will benefit you in the long run.