So is coffee healthy or not? Scientists have given us the definitive answer
City life runs on coffee and as many as 67 per cent of Europeans say they can’t imagine life without it – but how many of us know how healthy the black stuff is?
In a report released today, scientists said coffee is not as bad as many of us think, and that it may actually prevent the diseases we commonly associate with it.
Although 42 per cent of us think coffee increases our risk of heart disease, it can have the opposite effect, according to the report from the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee.
If consumed in moderation – around three to five cups a day – coffee helps to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Your next trip to a big-name coffee house may also help you stave off type two diabetes. Compared to drinking no coffee, or up to two cups a day, scientists have found that consuming three to four cups a day is linked to a 25 per cent lower risk of developing the disease.
After your fourth coffee, every additional cup you drink lowers your risk of type two diabetes by five to 10 per cent. But don’t overload on caffeine – the trend plateaus at six to eight cups of coffee a day.
You may think that coffee is just a necessary evil of working in the City, but if you ever ditch your 12-hour workday, don’t dump your coffee habits too. Research suggests life-long coffee consumption of three to five cups a day reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by up to 20 per cent.
| Our perceptions about coffee | The reality |
| 71% believe it doesn't reduce diabetes risk | Coffee reduces diabetes risk by 25% |
| 42% believe it increases heart disease risk | 3-5 cups of coffee reduces heart disease risk |
| 37% believe it helps mental decline in older adults | Coffee can reduce Alzheimer's risk by 20% |
| 36% believe it dehydrates | Drinking coffee does not cause dehydration |