Signs point to yes – a cup of coffee a day is believed to reduce your risk of certain diseases and improve your overall health. As if we needed any more motivation to get our daily cup of java! So inhale that wonderful aroma, savour the full flavour and drink down your next cup with the knowledge that you are potentially fighting the dreaded ageing process, type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and dementia. Refill? Yes please!

Coffee and Your Health

Disclaimer: as it is with all things in life, moderation is key (just incase you were about to consider heading off to join a coffee cult for its apparent health benefits).

Coffee is rich in two things: caffeine and antioxidants. Contrary to popular opinion, a moderate amount of caffeine is actually good for you. Caffeine stimulates the cortex of the brain which improves an individual’s ability to concentrate. Feeling a little tired and sluggish? Research has indicated that coffee drinkers are more alert and less likely to cause accidents.

And who would have believed that coffee could remedy a mid-life crisis? With each successive year, a new wrinkle or two is added to your once youthful visage. Next time you notice a creeping crevice, skip the intensive anti-ageing beauty regimen and grab a daily cup of coffee. While it certainly can’t be advertised as the fountain of youth, coffee is a rich source of anti-oxidants which prevent the type of cell damage that is part-and-parcel of the ageing process.

Better mental acuity, anti-ageing – wow, coffee certainly is a wonder in a cup – but there’s more. There is an increasing body of evidence which shows that coffee drinkers are less likely to have Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia, certain cancers, heart rhythm problems and strokes.

The evidence isn’t conclusive yet. Coffee hasn’t been proven to prevent these conditions, because researchers don’t ask people to drink coffee for the sake of science, meaning there could be other lifestyle or genetic factors at play to account for why coffee drinkers are less likely to have these conditions. If you want to get a better overview of the research, read about it here. (As for not asking people to drink coffee for the sake of science, I’m sure they could find volunteers. Where do I sign up?)

Instant Coffee vs. Freshly Ground Coffee Beans

If you’ve ever wondered what the better option is when it comes to instant coffee or freshly ground coffee beans, it’s always the less processed version – just another rule to live by. Instant coffee has to be pre-brewed and dried before it is bottled, whereas ground beans retain all of their natural goodness and anti-oxidants.


Do you feel like coffee now? At Life Café, we use only the freshest ground coffee to make our flavoursome espressos, cappuccinos, Americanos and lattés. Pop in any time – for your health, of course