You make two discoveries about coffee as you get on in years.

The first one hits you when, like a good health conscious adult, you cut out caffeine only to discover that you’re absolutely useless without it.

The second one comes about after the Google search that follows the first revelation, when you discover that, over the past 20 years, the most important thing that science has learned about coffee is that there’s very little evidence that it’s bad for you.

In fact, there might be even more reasons to drink it than ever before.

For one thing, it’s been linked to weight loss. It has also been linked to a decreased risk of early death, so you could keep your weight down and live longer. What’s not to love?

The Washington Post recently spoke to Edward Giovannucci, a professor of epidemiology and nutrition, who reckons that anti-inflammatories and antioxidants found naturally in coffee – polyphenols (such as chlorogenic and quinic acids) and diterpenes (such as cafestol and kahweol) – have a lot to do with why it’s good for you.

Giovannucci then pinpointed where current research into coffee is on point, and where more work is needed.

● Strongest evidence: Coffee lowers the risk of endometrial cancer, gallstones, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer, oral cancers and Type 2 diabetes.

● Moderate evidence: Coffee lowers the risk of colorectal cancer, coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers, Parkinson’s disease and respiratory disease; and it improves alertness, concentration, focus, energy levels and mood.

● Some evidence: Coffee lowers the risk of age-related cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, breast cancer, depression, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer; and it increases the variety of healthy bacteria in the gut.

● Limited evidence: Coffee lowers the risk of weight gain and falls by the elderly, possibly because caffeine increases alertness or reaction time.

That’s a lot of positive evidence that splurging on that morning cappuccino is actually a long-term investment in your health.

Just remember that the quality of the coffee makes a big difference to whether or not you’re reaping the benefits. We always go with Importers Coffee – the oldest coffee brand in the Western Cape.

The company imports top quality coffees from the world’s leading equatorial coffee growing regions, and they use the same coffee-brewing methods that have made them such a favourite over the years.

If you’re in the ‘burbs, swing by their famous shop in Newlands, and townies can grab a cup at Café du Cap (113 Loop Street).

For those who don’t want to face the world, stock up on their pods and beans to use at home.

And, if you’re that Googler looking for a reason to make yourself a cup of coffee, consider this the permission you need to get your caffeine on.

[source:washingtonpost]