The Health Benefits Of Drinking Coffee (Slideshow)

According to the study published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association, people who drank at least one cup of coffee daily, lowered their risk of stroke by about 20 percent compared to those who drank it rarely. Researchers found that this may be due to a chemical in coffee called chlorogenic acid, which lowers the chances of developing type 2 diabetes and, consequently, lowers the risk of stroke.

While drinking excessive amounts of coffee can be harmful, according to a study, drinking four to five servings of coffee a day lowers the risk of heart disease by 11 percent.

Several studies, including some conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health, found that long-term, habitual coffee consumers had less of a risk than non-drinkers of developing type 2 diabetes. One 2004 study, which observed more than 125,000 participants, theorized that it is the antioxidants in coffee (specifically ones like chlorogenic acid and magnesium) that helped improve insulin sensitivity.

Of course, because the cause of the disease is unknown, it cannot be said for sure what may be done to prevent it. Still, there seems to be some link between the caffeine in coffee and the reduction of the risk of developing the disease. One 2004 study, conducted by the University of Honolulu, found that the men studied who did not drink coffee were five times more likely to display symptoms of the disease than those who consumed an approximate 28 ounces a day.

For those among us who rely on that morning cup (or two) of coffee to get going, this claim should come as little surprise. Of particular interest to women however, is a 2007 French study which appeared to show that the caffeine in coffee helped slow "cognitive decline" in women 65 and older.  

Authorities seem to agree that moderate consumption of caffeinated coffee helps prevent gallstones by stimulating contractions in the gallbladder and lowering the cholesterol in the bile that can cause the stones to form. A study released in 2009 found that men who drank two to three cups of coffee daily were 40 percent less likely to develop gallstones compared to non-drinkers.

It has been suggested that those at risk of developing liver disease because of heavy alcohol consumption could benefit from drinking a couple cups of coffee daily. Some research seems to indicate that coffee may lower the risk of the development of elevated liver enzymes, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.