Coffee has always seemed to have a fluctuating status of whether it’s good or bad for your health. There is increasing evidence brewing recently that it might tip the scales further to the pro side. Researchers are beginning to believe that coffee has the ability to protect your body against particular kinds of cancers, liver disease, and diabetes. But strangely, coffee may have adverse effects on your health if you already have diabetes. Read on to learn exactly how drinking coffee can lower your risk of obtaining type 2 diabetes.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic illness that adversely affects how your body is able to process blood sugar, the important compound that gives your body energy. Diabetics have too much glucose circulating through their blood which leads to them becoming insulin resistant, and no longer able to effectively absorb glucose into their cells.
How Coffee Potentially Prevents Diabetes
The health benefits coffee has for diabetics differs from case to case, but there are some that seem to be more consistent than others. Researchers found that participants who increased their coffee intake by more than a single cup per day had a 11% lowered risk of developing type-2 diabetes. But conversely, participants who reduced their coffee intake by more than one cup per day actually increased their risk of developing diabetes by up to 17%. No difference was found in participants who drank tea.
Caffeine, the typical standout compound found in coffee, may not be responsible for this benefit. Caffeine on its own has been shown to increase both insulin and glucose levels. More research on the effects of coffee needs to be committed before researchers can say what exactly in coffee helps to protect us against type 2 diabetes. But for now, enjoy your morning cup of joe.
