EPIC STUDY: Drinking Coffee In Excess Is Actually Great For Your Health

Whether you’re a fan of trendy coffee shops, like Starbucks and Caribou, or you prefer traditional drip, home-brewed espresso, cappuccino, or French press brews, I have outstanding news for you. According to The Economic Times, a recent observational study has shown that coffee lovers could see marked health benefits as a side effect of their coffee habit.

The study, which observed roughly 20,000 individuals and took place over the course of ten years, was presented at The European Society of Cardiology Congress (ESC) on August 27, 2017. The Economic Times reports that “the researchers found that participants who consumed at least four cups of coffee per day had a 64% lower risk of all-cause mortality than those who never or almost never consumed coffee.”

The Telegraph notes that coffee “contains a number of compounds which interact with the body, including caffeine, diterpenes and antioxidants, and scientists believe some of these have a protective impact.” For those concerned with the interaction between healthy heart function and caffeine, it appears that decaffeinated coffee offers many of the same benefits as its more energizing counterpart. But why give up the morning jolt? According to The Mayo Clinic, “recent studies have generally found no connection between coffee and an increased risk of heart disease.” Which is great news, since decaf is blasphemous to us four cup-a-day drinkers.

The study is not the first to find that coffee may have real health benefits. Last year, Science Daily, citing research at the University of Southern California, reported that “coffee consumption, including decaf, instant and espresso, decreases the risk of colorectal cancer. Moreover, these benefits increase the more coffee you drink.” Dr. Stephen Gruber, one of the researchers, told Science Daily that those who head back to the coffee pot at least 2.5 times a day have a 50% reduced risk of developing the horrible affliction. The study’s authors suggest that caffeine and polyphenol (both are antioxidants) may be contributing factors in “limiting the growth of potential colon cancer cells.”

As I write this, I’m enjoying my third cup of java today. And boy does it feel great, knowing that as I drink this sweet nectar of the gods, I’m also lowering my chances of suffering colorectal cancer, inflammation and liver disease. Better yet, this go-go-juice could be extending my lifetime. So raise your mugs folks, and go back for seconds, thirds, and fourths. It just might save your life.

Tyler Dahnke is a father, husband and wine enthusiast who’s doing his best to make sense of today’s insane political landscape. You can follow him on Twitter @tylerdahnke.