I need my coffee every day! Is this bad?

Actually, no.

Many recent studies have touted the benefits of coffee.  Just two cups a day may promote heart health, reduce the risk of colon cancer and diabetes, and even help hard core athletes perform better.  Note this is not the latte with whipped cream or other fancy coffee drinks!

Coffee offsets some of the damage caused by other vices such as drinking and smoking.  And it’s also suggested that coffee could protect against Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease.  Why?  Well, some of it remains a mystery, but all indications point to its antioxidants, magnesium, and caffeine.

How much caffeine is in coffee?  An eight ounce cup of drip-brewed contains about 85 mg which is about 3.5 times more than the same serving of tea or soda, or one ounce of chocolate.  Caffeine is even an ingredient in some popular medications that are taken to treat asthma and headaches.

As with everything, moderation is the key, and too much can increase nervousness, hand trembling, and cause rapid heartbeat.  In some people it may also raise cholesterol levels or contribute to artery clogging, but the recent large studies show no significant adverse affect on most healthy people.

This is good news for the 108 million Americans who drink coffee each morning.  Just be sure to watch the added calories from the sugar and cream!