11 Coffee Drinking Studies + Facts — What Benefits and Risks Should You be Aware of?

Last Updated on February 12, 2023 by Marie Cooper

As a coffee lover, the last thing on your mind is what benefits you’ll gain from drinking that cup of coffee when you lift it up, or what health risks are associated with it. You just love it, you want it, and you love how it makes you feel, so you have a cup as regularly as you want. 

However, for those who are curious about what it does in their body, it doesn’t hurt to have a look at what conclusions several studies have arrived at regarding coffee and the important facts you need to be aware of as a regular drinker. 

1. According to the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, you’re more likely to live longer and less likely to develop cardiovascular disease when you drink 2 to 3 cups of coffee per day, compared to people who don’t drink any. Source. 

2. According to a study carried out by researchers in The Annals of Internal Medicine, you have a 30% lower chance of mortality when you drink coffee daily, ranging from 1.5 to 4.5 cups per day. This is for sweetened coffee with a teaspoon of sugar. The study went on to check if unsweetened cups have the same impact on mortality rate and the results were still positive. Unsweetened coffee drinkers were 16 to 21 percent less likely to die. Finally, having 3 cups per day equated to having the lowest risk of death relative to those who avoid it totally. These mortality rates were observed over a period of 7 years. Source. 

More Studies 

Here’s a list of coffee studies and their results as published on Harvard.edu. You can read the full details of each study here: 

• A 15% lower risk of all-cause death was found in a study of 200,000 participants who drank 3 to 5 cups daily. 
• In a large study of 500,000 participants, a 16% lower risk of early death was observed among people who drank 6 to 7 cups per day. 
• Two separate large studies found a link between coffee consumption and a lower risk of developing gallstones in men and women. 
• Caffeinated coffee reduced the risk of Parkison’s disease by 25% in drinkers, and each additional 300mg of caffeine intake added another 24% decreased risk. This was the result of a systematic review of 26 studies. 
• National Institutes of Health and American Association of Retired Persons carried out a study to determine the relationship between coffee consumption and depression. The study involving 263,923 people revealed that drinking at least 4 cups per day was linked to a nearly 10% lower risk of becoming depressed. Another study from a different organization found a link between increasing coffee consumption and decreasing risk of suicide. 
• Compared with non-drinkers, a Nurses’ Health Study involving 83,076 women found that there is a 20% lower risk of stroke among coffee drinkers who drink at least 4 cups each day. 
• Another study of 37,514 women found a link between consuming 2 to 3 cups per day and having a 21% lower risk of heart disease. 
• A meta-analysis of 21 prospective studies concluded that a 21% lower risk of death caused by cardiovascular disease is found among men and women that consume coffee moderately. 
• In a study of 45,335 people with type-2 diabetes, a lower risk of developing diabetes was observed as coffee consumption increased. One cup per day reduced the risk to 8%, while 6 daily cups reduced the risk to as much as 33%. 

Hot Vs Iced Coffee Benefits 

So, now that you know how good this wonderful drink is for your body and that the right thing to do Is to keep drinking moderately, you might be wondering whether cold ones have the same benefits as hot ones. Good news — they do. 

According to Harvard Chan researchers, temperature doesn’t affect the nutritional profile of coffee, so serve it cold or hot, you’re most likely getting the same benefits either way. 

Benefits of Drinking Coffee Regularly

1. The main ingredient in coffee that produces most of the benefits is caffeine, and caffeine is a stimulant that stimulates the central nervous system and has been known to improve the energy levels of those who consume it. It achieves this by blocking adenosine receptors. Adenosine is a neurotransmitter and when it is blocked, the levels of neurotransmitters that help to regulate energy levels increases. One of these brain neurotransmitters is dopamine.
2. Your brain is one of the most important organs in your body, and caffeine can improve the health of your brain and maintain it by reducing your risk of dementia, cognitive decline, and preventing other disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. It also reduces the rate at which these diseases progress in people that already have them.
3. Caffeine helps the beta cells in your pancreas that regulate blood sugar and produce insulin to function properly. This reduces your risk of developing type 2 diabetes when caffeine is consumed over the years. The antioxidants it contains also reduce inflammation which also helps in lowering the risk of this disease.
4. If you drink coffee, you’re more likely to lose excess body fat than those who don’t. This means it can help you manage your weight and lose weight too. This, combined with regular exercising, will most likely ensure you never gain too much weight.
5. You’ll be less likely to be depressed and less likely to commit suicide.
6. It boosts heart health and protects you from liver scarring and liver cancer. It also increases life span by lowering the risk of death.
7. Due to the impact of caffeine on energy levels and the brain, it can give you extra energy and endurance when engaging in physical activity.

These are the benefits you stand to gain from drinking coffee in moderation. Yes, in moderation. If you abuse or overdo anything, it will affect you adversely. So, be sure to bear this in mind as you enjoy your flavorful cups of coffee.