Coffee: A New Year’s Resolution?

Happy New Year, everyone! 2022 already. I still feel like I’m processing 2020. Jokes aside, every new year means new year resolutions, focusing on one or more aspects of your life to improve. It seems like a good idea at first, but out of the 41% of Americans who make resolutions, only 9% feel successful at keeping them at the end of the year. It seems like Americans need to lower their standards and set more manageable goals. The answer may be straightforward indeed. Coffee!

Expressos, lattes, cappuccinos, all popular beverages that taste good and give you a reason to get up in the morning. Could something so delicious be good for you, though? Recent studies have said that coffee is indeed healthy, and drinking more of it has significant long-term health benefits. Thus adding coffee to your resolutions list can be a fast, meaningful, and easy win in the new year.

Harvard School of Public Health conducted a big experiment over 30 years with 200,000 doctors and nurses. They found a link between increased coffee consumption and a lower risk of death from stroke, heart failure, diabetes, and even suicide.

 A 2018 study of 500,000 British adults over a decade showed that people who drink coffee are 10% to 15% less likely to die from any cause than noncoffee drinkers. This may be because 1,000 chemical components, including antioxidants, can be found in coffee. Antioxidants help prevent cells from damage.

 A smaller study from Stanford University suggested that caffeinated coffee drinkers are more likely to live longer because caffeine counteracts inflammation, which in turn is connected to “90 percent of all noncommunicable diseases of aging” according to David Furman, PhD, the study’s lead author.

All these studies clearly show that coffee is good for you and drinking more is beneficial. Plus, drinking coffee throughout the day can result in better moods. However, like all good things, moderation is key. Stopping at 5 cups is a good idea, according to a study at the University of South Australia. Once you get past 5 cups of coffee per day, you may start to increase your rate of heart disease.

Overall, drinking more coffee is an easy way to fulfill a resolution. It doesn’t cost too much, many find it enjoyable, and it won’t impact your daily schedule tremendously. So here is to the new year and to drinking more coffee!