In the United States, about 58 percent of adults drink coffee daily. But what are the health effects associated with drinking coffee? There is research that supports both the idea that coffee is good for your health and that coffee is harmful to your health. Below are the good, bad and ugly when it comes to your morning cup of java.

The Good

Lower Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes

A study in Japan found in 2010 found that coffee drinking was protective against type 2 diabetes. This was later upheld by a study done in Germany in 2012, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, which found that coffee drinkers are 23 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than non-coffee drinkers. This does not mean, however, that coffee prevents type 2 diabetes. Instead researchers believe the effect is a result of certain chemicals in coffee that positively affect metabolism.

Lower Risk Of Parkinson’s Disease

Studies have shown that drinking two to four cups of coffee per day can reduce the chances of developing Parkinson’s disease, a disorder of the brain that leads to tremors and difficulty with movement. Some studies state that there is a 28 percent reduced chance of developing Parkinson’s for coffee drinkers. Caffeine may work to protect nerves that produce dopamine by binding to receptors on the cell membrane. In other words, those who drink caffeine would lose less never cells, which decrease the chance of developing Parkinson’s.

Lower Risk Of Various Cancers

In a study that appeared in the International Journal of Cancer in 2007, it found that those who drank three or more cups of coffee per day were 16 percent less likely to develop kidney cancer than those who drank less than a cup of coffee per day. Studies have also shown that drinking coffee helps reduce chances of developing liver cancer. Combined studies showed that those who drank coffee daily were about 41 percent less likely to develop hepatocellular carcinoma, a type of liver cancer, than those who never drank coffee. There are also studies that show that drinking coffee may lower the risk of prostate cancer by 30 to 60 percent and colon cancer in women.

The Bad

Temporary High Blood Pressure

Drinking coffee, or caffeine, can cause a temporary spike in your blood pressure, even if you do not have high blood pressure.  Some regular coffee drinkers have higher blood pressure than those who do not drink coffee. However, at the same time some long-term coffee drinkers develop a tolerance to it. Those who should be concerned about these high blood pressure spikes associated with caffeine are those who have high blood pressure.

Addiction

Drinking coffee regularly can cause caffeine addiction. Similar to any other kind of drug, if you are addicted to caffeine and do not drink any source of it, like coffee, withdrawal symptoms are likely to follow. Some symptoms include: headaches, anxiety and drowsiness.

Chronic Dehydration

Coffee is a mild diuretic and as a result, it increases the need to urinate. This can lead to dehydration and if consumed daily without the right supplementation of water, coffee can lead to chronic dehydration. The most common symptom of dehydration is surprisingly not thrust but a plethora of problems, such as heartburn, arthritis, headaches, depression, weight problems and accelerated aging.

The Ugly

Decreased Memory Functions 

Although there are a number of potential benefits from drinking, there are also possible harmful effects from long-term coffee drinking. Studies have shown that although coffee, or more particularly caffeine, can improve short-term memory over time it decreases long-term memory. In a study conducted by Dr. Han Me in 2007, published in the Biochemical Biophysiological Research Community Journal, researchers found that regular consumption of coffee in the long-term could lead to the slowing down of the hippocampus, which is responsible for consolidating short-term memory into long-term memory. The result of long-term coffee consumption may slow down memory and learning.

The simple lesson about coffee, as with any other food item, is simply moderation is key.

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