Coffee, java, cup of Joe, morning miracle, lifeblood, rocket fuel, daily grind and my favorite, wake-up-juice…this beloved beverage has a lot of nicknames. Whatever name you give your coffee, it’s very hard to imagine a life without it, especially if you depend on it to start your day. There is a coffee shop virtually at every corner, if not two or more, in any major city nowadays, brewing this favorite drink in many different ways.

However, coffee, in addition to being a stimulant, is also known to have other health benefits:

1. Protection against cirrhosis of the liver

The analysis of an extensive study conducted on over half a million of men and women from six different countries, shows that increased consumption of coffee reduces the risk of liver cirrhosis. Results show that the more cups of coffee drank per day, lowers the risk of developing the disease. By numbers, two extra cups of coffee per day resulted in 44% lower risk of developing cirrhosis and 50% less risk of mortality in patients with existing liver cancer.

2. Coffee lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes

According to a Harvard University medical study conducted over several years, increased consumption of coffee, which in this case referred to more than 1 cup per day, resulted in 11% less chance of developing type 2 diabetes. The study monitored 50,000 men and women and found that those who reduced their coffee consumption by more than a cup per day, increased the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 17%.

3. Coffee reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease

Multiple studies show that drinking coffee and caffeine significantly delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. This has been the case in some seniors who already display the symptoms of mild dementia. Research shows drinking coffee and intake of caffeine as a result blocks certain brain inflammation, which triggers a chain reaction and the decline of the brain’s cognitive functions.

4. Coffee protects against Parkinson’s

A study conducted by the National Institute of Health found that drinking coffee reduced the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. Caffeine is a known agent against the deposits of certain proteins in the brain, which are known to cause Parkinson’s disease. However, these studies also note that a particular substance found in coffee, namely eicosanoyl-5-hydroxytryptamide (EHT), was also responsible for reducing the risk of Parkinson’s disease.

5. Coffee reduces the risk of heart disease

Most notably, studies indicate that increased coffee consumption results in decreased risk of heart failure, stroke or the development of coronary heart disease.

Regardless of why you drink coffee, the undeniable health benefits of coffee is proven fact. So raise your cup-o-joe for health. Cheers!