Your morning cup of joe gets you going and gives you the energy to start your day, but how you drink it plays a role in how beneficial it is for your health. Black coffee is low in fat and calories and supplies a wealth of antioxidants that help protect your health. Certain risks have been linked to drinking large amounts of black coffee, but rest assured that you can safely drink a cup of coffee every morning.
Fat, Calories and Nutrients
An 8-ounce cup of black coffee contains just 2 calories and 0 grams of fat. The same cup of coffee contains tiny doses of calcium for strong bones and potassium to keep your heart beat regular. When you add cream and sugar to a cup of coffee, it increases the fat and calorie content of your drink.
The compounds in coffee might help prevent cancer. The Harvard Health Letter reported in its February 2006 issue that researchers at Harvard Medical School found that drinking coffee might reduce your risk of liver cancer by 50 percent compared to people who don't drink coffee. The compounds in coffee might also reduce your risk of colon, breast and rectal cancer.
The antioxidants that a cup of black coffee contains offers you many protective benefits. A 2006 study published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" reports that drinking coffee reduces inflammation levels in your body, which can reduce your risk of heart disease. A 2004 article published in the "Journal of Nutrition" notes that the antioxidants in coffee can help reduce your risk of certain degenerative diseases. The article also reports that the level of antioxidants in coffee is higher than the levels in wine, tea, fruits and vegetables. Coffee might also protect you against Parkinson's disease and Type 2 diabetes, according to MayoClinic.com.
Caffeine and Other Risks
Black coffee contains caffeine, which can be harmful to your health in large doses. You can safely consume between 200 and 300 milligrams of caffeine per day, according to MayoClinic.com. This translates to between two and four cups of coffee. Regularly consuming 500 or more milligrams a day can cause you to have trouble sleeping and can lead to irritability, restlessness, upset stomach and a rapid heartbeat, according to MayoClinic.com. Drinking unfiltered coffee and coffee drinks, such as lattes, can cause your cholesterol to increase, MayoClinic.com notes. The clinic also notes that people who have a hard time metabolizing caffeine can be at an increased risk of heart disease.
Articles For Your Diet
- MayoClinic.com: Coffee and Health -- What Does the Research Say?
- Harvard Medical School: Coffee Health Benefits -- Coffee May Protect Against Disease
- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: Consumption of Coffee is Associated With Reduced Risk of Death Attributed to Inflammatory Cardiovascular Diseases in the Iowa Women's Health Study
- Journal of Nutrition: Intakes of Antioxidants in Coffee, Wine, and Vegetables Are Correlated with Plasma Carotenoids in Humans
- MayoClinic.com: Caffeine -- How Much Is Too Much?
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Coffee, Brewed From Grounds, Prepared With Tap Water
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