Keeping Sharp

According to a recent study by the University of Finland School of Medicine, coffee may be able to help keep you mentally keen -- and not just after a late night out. Researchers found that participants who drank three to five cups of coffee per day had a 65 percent lower chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease or dementia later in life. How? Coffee’s antioxidant properties may prevent damage to brain cells and boost the effects of the neurotransmitters that control cognitive function. Some studies have even speculated that compounds found in coffee may activate a DNA-repairing protein in cells, which possibly could prevent the DNA damage that can lead to cells becoming cancerous.

Happy Hearts

Drinking even one to two cups of coffee per day can significantly reduce a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease-related death by as much as 38 percent. Other studies show that moderate coffee consumption can lead to a lower risk of stroke than in those who don’t drink the brew. The speculation is that coffee’s antioxidants may help minimize inflammation’s damaging effects on the arteries and that coffee may boost the activation of nitric oxide, a substance that widens blood vessels and lowers blood pressure. Warning: more isn’t always better. Drinking more than five cups of coffee a day has been linked to an increase in heart disease risks. Further, boiled or unfiltered coffee (French press fanatics, take note) contains higher levels of cafestol, a compound that has been liked to an increase in LDL, or bad cholesterol. Filtered brews are healthier for the body.

Love Your Liver

Coffee may be just the boost you need after a late night on the town, but research is beginning to show that coffee may be linked to a decreased risk of cirrhosis and other liver diseases. One analysis found that, for every two-cup increase in daily coffee consumption, a person has a 43 percent lower risk of developing cancer. Why? Caffeine and caffeine acids found in coffee may prevent liver inflammation and inhibit cancer cell development.