Most college students rely on their cup of coffee (or maybe five) to get them through the day, and let’s not go into the outrageous spike in college students’ caffeine consumption that accompanies exam week.
Though sometimes you might feel a little guilty for your caffeine dependence, scientific studies show that coffee may be correlated with some great health benefits, so now you can set that guilt aside and continue binge drinking.
1. Coffee may reduce your risk of developing multiple sclerosis.
Photo by Meredith Simmons
According to a study published just last month, drinking coffee could be associated with prevention of developing multiple sclerosis (MS.) This debilitating disease involves the immune system attacking the body’s myelin sheath, which protect your nerves.
The myelin sheath is fatty, which helps to relay electric neuron information to other neurons. Damage to your myelin sheath disrupts communication between your body and brain, and can lead to nerve deterioration.
Don’t fear coffee-lovers. The Swedish study compared people who drank six cups a day before symptoms of MS appeared and those who did not drink coffee.
Those who drank no coffee were at one and a half times increased risk of developing the disease. Translation: drinking insane amounts of coffee before MS symptoms are displayed may have preventative factors. Get drinking.
2. Drinking coffee could lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Photo by Gabby Phi
The Harvard School of Public Health conducted a study in May 2014 that showed increasing your daily coffee intake by one and a half cups could lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes because it helps break down glucose.
This study also found that people who tried reducing their coffee intake (is that even possible?) by 8 ounces suffered from a 17% increased risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes. The ideal amount to drink to get these correlated benefits is 3 to 5 cups a day. Can’t stop, won’t stop (drinking coffee).
3. Women drinking coffee daily could reduce their risk of endometrial cancer.
Photo by Meredith Simmons
A UK study published last month described how drinking 3 to 4 cups of coffee a day could reduce a woman’s risk of developing endometrial cancer by up to 19%.
This cancer, which affects 1 of 37 women in their lifetimes, is the cancer of the lining of the uterus (the endometrium,) which can have major reproductive and sexual health consequences. So ladies, run over to Starbucks, no one’s judging.
4. Caffeine in coffee can help you burn more calories.
Photo by Julia Liang
A Spanish study showed that athletes who consumed caffeine prior to working out burned 15% more calories 3 hours post-workout than those who took a placebo.
This is because caffeine can help to improve blood circulation, reduce perceived muscle pain and aid in muscle preservation. Maybe consider replacing your pre-workout shake with coffee?
5. Caffeine may have preventative factors in the development of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Photo by Helen Poon
A 2010 study in Finland showed a correlation between drinking 3 to 5 cups of coffee per day during midlife and a decreased risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease by 65%.
The study proposes this may be due to the caffeine itself, or possibly the antioxidant capacities or increased insulin sensitivity due to drinking coffee.
Either way, many studies are showing correlations between drinking coffee and the prevention or delay of the onset of Alzheimer’s. Start drinking now and older you will remember to thank you.
If you didn’t have an excuse to drink more coffee besides an 8am exam, you do now. Start brewing another mug, run over to Starbucks or pop in another K-Cup. Your future self may thank you.
Here’s where to get more caffeine: