Over the years, there has been significant waffling over whether coffee is good or bad for you. However, the actual research suggests that coffee is overwhelmingly good, even though–like anything in life–there are some drawbacks. In the interest of being fair, the only real issues with coffee seem to be the possibility of caffeine dependence, a risk of insomnia (depending mostly on WHEN you drink it), it seems to trigger a craving for sugar and can sometimes make acid reflux worse.

That being said, there are several reasons to drink coffee. Here are just 10.

1. Studies suggest coffee prevents dementia – Coffee’s antioxidants, namely the polyphenols seem to interact with the caffeine to help clear out toxic proteins in the brain. It even suggests that it can help prevent Alzheimer’s Disease.
2. It is helpful in preventing Type II diabetes – A similar mechanism that helps prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s also guards against diabetes. By helping to clear toxic proteins from individual cells all throughout the body, cells are less likely to become insulin resistant, thus less likely for the system to become diabetic.
3. Coffee helps to clear out your liver – Again, the cocktail of antioxidants in coffee is incredibly helpful to your body’s main filtration system–the liver.
4. Coffee helps prevent premature death – Researchers aren’t really sure why this is, but a study by the European Society of Cardiology found a correlation between four cups of coffee a day and a lower likelihood of early death.
5. Caffeine is what’s called a “mental acuity enhancer” – Essentially, it helps improve thinking clarity and memory. Also, caffeine is a slight but significant mood enhancer, meaning drinking coffee just makes you a little bit happier.
6. Coffee reduces the risk of heart disease – An American Heart Association study found that three to four cups of coffee a day correlates with lower heart disease death rates.
7. Coffee helps you lose weight – By increasing your metabolism by between 3% and 11%, coffee increases your energy consumption which, if you are burning the right type of energy, you will lose fat.
8. Coffee helps your body perform at a higher level – While this can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your situation, caffeine increases epinephrine, which ramps up your nervous system. The problem can be adrenal fatigue, but this is generally only a problem when other factors come into play, i.e., a high-stress lifestyle.
9. Coffee contains essential nutrients – If you drink one cup of coffee, you’ll get 11% of your recommended daily amount of Vitamin B2, 6% of your recommended daily amount of Vitamin B5, 3% each of your recommended daily amount of manganese and potassium and 2% each of your daily recommended amount of magnesium and niacin.
10. Coffee protects against liver cancer and colorectal cancer – These are the third and fourth most dangerous types of cancer worldwide, respectively, and three to four cups of coffee reduces your risk of liver cancer by 40% and reduces your risk of colorectal cancer by 15%.

Drinking coffee in general will provide you with all of these benefits. However, it is important to note that not all coffees are created equal. Coffee can also contribute to toxic buildup. If a coffee is not organic, you will most certainly drinking pesticides, which can increase the risk of developing some cancers.

If a coffee has been roasted and stored for a long period of time (most coffees on the shelf in your local grocery store have been sitting there for at least a month–which is already too long) they develop toxic mold. This stresses your liver and can affect you on a cellular level by causing inflammation and leading to a wide range of autoimmune diseases.

If you can get a fresh, locally-roasted organic coffee, this is your best bet. I have long recommended Purity Coffee. Not only is it organic, it is roasted and shipped to you within a 24-hour period. There is no risk of pesticides or mold. It is, in my research, the healthiest coffee readily available to the public.

Now get out there and have a cup of coffee. Invite your spouse or a friend and make it a social event. Get healthy together!