Java and caffeine are chock-full of health benefits. Here are the top reasons to order up a cup.
Benefit your beanIt's a no-brainer! Lifelong caffeinated-coffee fans may be less prone to develop Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Coffee's antioxidants may tamp down cell damage linked to Parkinson's. And caffeine blocks inflammation in the brain, which is associated with Alzheimer's.
Make a tastier cup of coffee: Channel your inner barista and percolate a perfect pot with these tips.
Sip for your smileCaffeinated java has antibacterial and antiadhesive powers, so it may keep cavity-causing bacteria from eating your enamel. And drinking a cup daily has been shown to slash oral cancer risk by half. Also, compounds found in coffee may limit cancer cell growth and DNA damage.
Brew for your breastsCoffee's a bosom buddy! Premenopausal women who downed four cups of regular coffee per day experienced a 38 percent reduction in their breast cancer risk, a study in The Journal of Nutrition finds. Coffee unleashes phytoestrogens and flavonoids that may stifle tumor growth. But drink up: Those who had less than 4 cups didn't benefit.
Caffeinate around the clock: Schedule your buzz for a slimmer, more successful you.
Stop stonesGallstones grow when mucus inside your gallbladder traps cholesterol crystals. Xanthine, found in caffeine, may reduce mucus and risk for deposits. Two or more cups daily may help.
Save your skinTwo to five cups of regular coffee daily may help lower your risk for nonmelanoma skin cancer by up to 17 percent. Caffeine may spur skin to kill precancerous cells, and it also inhibits tumor growth.
Dodge diabetesPeople who sip 3 to 4 cups of regular or decaf coffee a day are 30 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Chlorogenic acid may help prevent insulin resistance, a harbinger of the disease.
How healthy is your caffeine habit? Take the quiz.
MORE FROM SELF: