Coffee is that one thing that millions of Americans start their day with. It’s warm, inviting, and full of caffeine that offers a much-needed pick-me-up to get the day started. But, what’s really happening inside of your body when you drink that cup of joe? Are you drinking something that is beneficial to you long-term, or are you fueling your body with a harmful substance? With varying opinions on the topic, here’s what science has to say about it — the good and the not-so-good.
First, the benefits
1. Protection against different types of cancers
Several studies have been conducted to see if the carcinogenic properties in coffee are linked to the development of cancer — a link that researcher have been unable to find. However several studies, including some cited by the American Cancer Society have found that coffee could actually protect against many cancers.
The ACS website stated that “Coffee may lower the risk of several types of cancer, including head and neck, colorectal, breast, and liver cancer … Hundreds of biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols are found in roasted coffee. These and other coffee compounds have been shown to increase energy expenditure, inhibit cellular damage, regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and/or inhibit metastasis, among other activities.”
