Coffee and caffeine provide more than a mere jolt of energy as researchers found out that it is linked to lower odds of certain diseases.
Researchers stress that moderation is key to ensure that the public reaps the health benefits of coffee such as lowered risks of type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, liver disease and gallstones, certain cancers, and heart disease, as per reports from WebMD.
“The impact of coffee consumption on health is important because there are few other dietary factors that so many people across the world are so frequently exposed to,” said National University of Singapore Professor Rob van Dam, who is also the lead author on the review.
Van Dam also cited that too much caffeine can also lead to either jitters or sleepless nights: “The amount of caffeine that leads to unpleasant side effects varies greatly from person to person.”
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How much is ‘enough’ coffee per day?
Researchers state that most people can tolerate up to five 8-ounce cups of coffee per day. However, this also depends on each person’s caffeine tolerance.
For pregnant women, the limit is only no more than 200 milligrams of caffeine per day, which is equivalent to a 12-ounce cup of coffee.
The public is also advised that regardless of whether they prefer filtered or unfiltered coffee, they should be wary of what they put in their coffee. Experts advise against putting more cream, sugar, and/or other sweeteners stressing that it isn’t ideal if the person is aiming to maximize the health benefits provided by coffee.
“Coffee and caffeine can be part of a healthy lifestyle. What you put into the coffee is what really matters, rather than whether it’s filtered or unfiltered. Some of these coffee drinks people buy are more like milkshakes,” said Lauri Wright, chair of nutrition and dietetics at the University of North Florida, and a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
