So…How many cups a day should you be drinking?

1 cup 

Research has shown that those who increase their coffee consumption by one cup per day: 

• Lower their risk of type 2 diabetes by 11% 
• Decrease probability of heart failure and stroke by 8%  
• Reduce the risk of death from liver cirrhosis by 23%  
• Lower the risk of liver cancer by 15%.

Concerning women, a single cup of coffee daily can:

• Reduce the threat of endometrial cancer by 8%, and 
• Lower the risk of depression by 15%.

And, in a study concerning overall mortality, Americans decreased their risk of early death by 12% with...you guessed it...one cup of coffee per day.  

2-3 cups

So, now that we know that coffee is more than just your morning cup of bliss; are there advantages to adding another cup (or two)? Research suggests, YES!

People who drink 2-3 cups of coffee daily were found to be 45% less likely to commit suicide.  

Two to three cups a day can also:

• Lower the risk of prostate cancer in men
• Decrease the likelihood of gout by 22% in women
• Reduce the threat of colorectal cancer by up to 50% even with decaf
• Lessen the probability of cancer, in general, by 18%, and
• Lower the risk of cirrhosis by 43% with 2 cups and 57% with 3 cups.

3-5 cups

You might attest that coffee adds life to your day, but can coffee add days to your life? Some reports show that whether you’re drinking regular or decaf, consuming 3 cups daily lowered all causes of mortality by 17%. 

Drinking 3-5 cups per day can also:

• Lower the threat of liver cancer by 50% 
• Decrease the threat of Alzheimer's disease by 65%
• Decrease signs of coronary artery calcium, and 
• Lessen the probability of heart disease by 20%.

4-6 cups

While “everything in moderation,” and “nothing in excess,” are good rules of thumb when dealing with health and wellness: what is considered moderate, and what is considered excess when it comes to drinking coffee? Those consuming 4 or more cups of coffee each day are considered heavy drinkers. But, according to the following findings, that’s not a bad thing. 

Those consuming 4-6 cups of coffee have a:

• Lower risk of metabolic syndrome
• Decreased risk of type 2 diabetes, (the risk drops by 7% for each daily cup, with heavy drinkers lowering their risk by 50%), and
• A 50% reduced threat of throat and mouth cancers.

Men who drink 4-5 cups of java daily decrease the threat of gout by 40%, and increasing that to 6 cups lowered it another 20%. Men who consume 4 or more cups per day may lower their probability of Parkinson’s disease by as much as five times. 

And, women who drank 4 or more cups per day, compared to those who did not drink coffee at all, saw a 25% decrease in risk of endometrial cancer. 

Quantity doesn’t equate quality

We’ve seen the advantages gained from coffee in quantity, but those fall by the wayside without quality. Not all coffee is created equal. Mass market coffees can contain harmful chemicals, molds, and toxins. To gain the benefits listed throughout this article, quality coffee is key. Here at Lifeboost, we sell the healthiest coffee possible. Shade-grown, 100% chemical-free, non-GMO, fairly traded, and single origin...our coffee is the healthiest on the planet. 

Some things to note:

To fully benefit from the disease-fighting properties of quality coffee, avoid additives like refined sugars. Also, while the advantages are abundant, be cautious of overburdening your body with caffeine which can cause adverse effects. If you have specific health related concerns or questions please consult your physician.

References:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/apt.13523

https://aasldpubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/hep.23162

https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/83/5/1039/4649470

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20182054/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14706966/

https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/177/1/50/128844

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/1105943

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/773949

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/apt.13523

https://www.onemedical.com/blog/eat-well/10-healthy-reasons-to-drink-coffee-2

https://www.inverse.com/article/46350-surprising-health-benefits-from-4-cups-of-coffee-a-day

https://www.inc.com/bill-murphy-jr/a-massive-new-study-of-347077-people-just-revealed-exactly-how-much-coffee-you-should-drink-each-day-before-health-dangers-outweigh-benefits.html?cid=search

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/270202#benefits

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/6-cups-of-coffee-a-day-is-safe-but-more-isnt-healthy#What-are-the-health-benefits-associated-with-coffee-consumption?

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Dr. Charles Livingston nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.