10 Health Benefits of Coffee

More than a pick-me-up

Known as the world’s most consumed beverage after water, coffee has been demonized throughout the centuries — until recently.

• Coffee was banned in Mecca in 1511 over fears it promoted sedition by bringing men together to discuss politics.
• Initially outlawed in Venice, Pope Clement VIII declared, “This devil’s drink is so delicious … we should cheat the devil by baptizing it!” dubbing coffee “devil’s drink.”
• Over the centuries, coffee has been compared to alcohol as an intoxicant and even considered damaging to health as recently as the mid-20th century.

Good quality coffee, when consumed in moderation (1–3 cups a day), now enjoys the reputation of being a health-promoting drink.

Buyer Beware

A recent recall of coffee in 48 states purchased from Dollar General highlights the importance of buying coffee from reputable sources. (1)

10 Reasons You Can Enjoy That Morning Cup of Coffee Without Guilt

1. Supports Gut Health: Boosts beneficial gut bacteria and improves microbiome diversity, aiding digestion, regularity, and immunity. (2)
2. Promotes Heart Health: Moderate coffee consumption is linked to reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular mortality. (3)
3. Boosts Mental Alertness: Caffeine enhances focus, reaction time, and energy levels. (4)
4. Improves Mood & Reduces Depression Risk: Increases dopamine activity, improving mood and motivation. (5,6)
5. Lowers Type 2 Diabetes Risk: Improves insulin sensitivity and glucose regulation. (7)
6. Shields Your Brain: Reduces risk of cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease. (3)
7. Provides Antioxidant Power: Rich in antioxidants that fight inflammation and protect cells. (8)
8. Aids Weight Management: Supports metabolism, reduces body fat, and may enhance physical activity. (9)
9. Protects Your Liver: Associated with lower risk of liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and improved liver enzymes. (3)
10. Strengthens Immune Function: Modulates innate and adaptive immune responses, reduces inflammation, and slows immune cell aging. (10)

So enjoy your morning cup of joe—in moderation, of course!

References

1. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. (2025). Dollar General announces voluntary recall of Clover Valley® instant coffee. Link
2. Saygili S, Hegde S, Shi XZ. Effects of Coffee on Gut Microbiota and Bowel Functions: A Literature Review. Nutrients. 2024;16(18):3155. PMID: 39339755; PMCID: PMC11434970.
3. Poole R, Kennedy OJ, et al. Coffee consumption and health: umbrella review of meta-analyses. BMJ. 2017;359:j5024. PMID: 29167102; PMCID: PMC5696634.
4. Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Military Nutrition Research; Marriott BM, editor. Food Components to Enhance Performance. 1994. Link
5. Lara DR. Caffeine, mental health, and psychiatric disorders. J Alzheimers Dis. 2010;20 Suppl 1:S239-48. PMID: 20164571.
6. Solinas M, Ferré S, et al. Caffeine induces dopamine and glutamate release in the nucleus accumbens. J Neurosci. 2002;22(15):6321-4. PMID: 12151508; PMCID: PMC6758129.
7. Kolb H, Martin S, Kempf K. Coffee and Lower Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: Arguments for a Causal Relationship. Nutrients. 2021;13(4):1144. PMID: 33807132; PMCID: PMC8066601.
8. Liang N, Kitts DD. Antioxidant property of coffee components. Molecules. 2014;19(11):19180-208. PMID: 25415479; PMCID: PMC6270823.
9. Farias-Pereira R, Park CS, Park Y. Mechanisms of action of coffee bioactive components on lipid metabolism. Food Sci Biotechnol. 2019;28(5):1287-1296. PMID: 31695927; PMCID: PMC6811484.
10. Ruan P, Yang M, et al. Metabolic shifts during coffee consumption refresh the immune response. MedComm. 2024;5(7):e617. PMID: 38887468; PMCID: PMC11181901.

Written by Brooke Lounsbury