Those of you who, like me, cannot survive a day without a few cups of coffee are in luck. In a recent study done by the American Heart Association, it was found that coffee may be associated with reduced risk of both heart failure and stroke. Basically, drinking coffee daily can actually be part of a healthy diet and has positive health benefits that ultimately lead to living longer. 

~Science~ Don't Lie 

I normally down no more than three cups of Joe per day, but in this study, the participants, about a half-million people, drank from one cup to eight cups of coffee per day. Fortunately for all of us, researchers found that coffee's positive health benefits were associated not only with all levels of coffee consumption, but also with a variety of coffee drinks. 

In addition to a reduced risk of heart failure and stroke, according to a recent study done by JAMA Internal Medicine, the health benefits of coffee also include a link to increased longevity. This is not to say that we should make ourselves drink more coffee, but rather that it is a positive assurance that a necessary afternoon pick-me-up is nothing to feel guilty about. 

Erikka Loftfield, a research fellow at the National Cancer Institute and the study's lead investigator, told TIME that “we observed an inverse association for coffee drinking with mortality, including among participants who reported drinking at least one cup per day, up to eight or more cups per day." Surprisingly, these benefits are seen with both regular and decaf coffee. 

Gourmet Galore 

Coffee, capsule, bebida and cafe HD photo by Jisu Han (@makeitcount) on Unsplash

Unsplash on unsplash

Just as we have seen an increase in general coffee consumption of late, our culture has also experienced a huge growth in the market for specialty and gourmet coffees, specifically non-instant and small-batch roasts. Forbes Magazine reports that, according to the National Coffee Association's 2017 Report on National Coffee Drinking Trends, 59% of coffee consumed daily is classified as “gourmet.” This finding is a positive shift in the coffee industry as it means an increased appreciation for local roasters and small-batch farmers. In other words, instead of just consuming the final coffee product without consideration for quality or process, there's a growth in our overall admiration and appreciation for the immense care poured into every single cup. 

Now that we have assurance that we can guzzle down almost as much coffee as we want, make sure to study-up on your coffee lingo and sound like a total pro.