---
title: Why Your Coffee Addiction Isn't So Bad for You
description: Go ahead and pour yourself another cup
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author: Real Simple
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article:published_time: 2015-01-28T21:25:33.000Z
article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:44:27.211Z
article:section: Health
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twitter:description: Go ahead and pour yourself another cup
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---
# Why Your Coffee Addiction Isn't So Bad for You
## Video: The 50 Pound Cup of Coffee
[Watch (HLS stream): The 50 Pound Cup of Coffee](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/5AkCMa26.m3u8) (2:01)
_Published 2008-04-21. Perceived wisdom has it that we're entering a worldwide recession. So, how can a London department store get away with selling a cup of Joe at this kind of price?_
by
[Real Simple](https://time.com/author/real-simple/)
## Real Simple
Jan 28, 2015 9:25 PM UTC
Man on desk holding cup of coffee, close up
Man on desk holding cup of coffee, close upGetty Images
by
[Real Simple](https://time.com/author/real-simple/)
## Real Simple
Jan 28, 2015 9:25 PM UTC
Knocking back a daily cup of joe (or several) delivers more than a jolt of energy. That morning brew comes with a host of health benefits, according to research. Here’s how coffee can benefit your body and your brain.
**1\. Coffee may decrease your risk of depression.** Drinking four or more cups per day could decrease the risk of depression in women, according to a study from the [Harvard School of Public Health](http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/coffee-depression-women-ascherio-lucas/). The study examined the coffee habits and depression rates of 50,739 women over 10 years. Coffee drinkers had a 20 percent lower chance of developing depression later in life. Drinking [two to four cups daily](http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2013/07/drinking-coffee-may-reduce-risk-of-suicide-by-50/) also appears to lower the risk of suicide by 50%, according to another Harvard study.
**2\. Coffee might help prevent skin cancer.** Drinking four or more cups of coffee daily may lower your risk of cutaneous melanoma, the leading cause of skin-cancer death in the U.S., by 20 percent, according to a [new study](http://time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/loftfielddju421.pdf) published in the _J_ _ournal of the National Cancer Institute_**.** Researchers followed nearly 450,000 cancer-free participants over 10 years. Overall, those who drank more saw less cutaneous melanoma. Four daily cups of coffee can also reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s, according to previous studies.
**3\. Smelling coffee can bust stress.** When rats smelled coffee beans, genes connected with healthful antioxidants and stress-reduction were activated, according to researchers from Seoul National University in South Korea. No, you’re not a rat—even if you’re in the rat race—but the stress-busting benefits may be one reason your morning latte smells so delicious.
**4\. Coffee might help fight obesity.** A compound found in coffee, [chlorogenic acid (CGA)](http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11095-014-1526-9), could help ward off [obesity-related diseases](http://www.realsimple.com/health/preventative-health/coffee-prevent-obesity-related-disease), according to researchers at the University of Georgia. In a study of mice, CGA prevented weight gain, reduced inflammation, helped maintain normal blood-sugar levels, and kept livers healthy. Gradually increasing your coffee consumption can also lead to a lower risk of Type 2 diabetes, according to [previous research](http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/increasing-daily-coffee-intake-may-reduce-type-2-diabetes-risk/).
**5\. Coffee may prevent Parkinson’s disease.** Men who did not drink coffee were two to three times more likely to develop the disease than men who drank [four ounces to four cups](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/caffeine-might-prevent-parkinsons/) per day, according to a study published in _Journal of the American Medical Association_. Though there are treatments to slow the progression of Parkinson’s, which targets the body’s nervous system and causes tremors, there’s no cure, so prevention is key.
**6\. Coffee could boost your workout.** Caffeine increases the number of fatty acids in the bloodstream, which raises overall endurance, because your body doesn’t have to burn carbs so fast, [_The New York Times_ reports](http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/14/how-coffee-can-galvanize-your-workout/). Weightlifters who drank caffeine before their workouts stayed energized longer than those who did not, according to another small study.
### QUIZ: Should You Eat This or That?
Which is better for you: Half cup of ice cream or 3 scoops of sorbet? Getty Images (4)
Answer: A half cup of ice cream If you eat what you’re craving, you’re more likely to feel satisfied and eat less. And scoop for scoop sorbet contains twice the sugar with none of the filling dairy protein and fat. Getty Images (5); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
Which is better for you: Real butter or spray on fake butter? Getty Images; Tara Johnson for TIME
Answer: Butter Serving size for spray butters (even low-calorie ones) are around a 1/3 second spray. What on earth does that mean? You're better off using a small amount of real butter as opposed to guessing how much you're using of the mystery melange of up to 20 ingredients. Getty Images (1); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
Which is better for you: A turkey burger or a sirloin burger? Getty Images (2)
Answer: Sirloin burger Restaurant turkey burgers are often made with dark meat and the skin, so they’re not necessarily better for you (and for the record, they aren't low-fat). You can get a sirloin burger that’s 95% lean meat and gives you 20 g of protein. Just be careful with the toppings. Getty Images (1); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
Which is better for you: Almonds or pretzels? Getty Images (2)
Answer: Almonds Almonds are high in protein, fiber and fat and will keep you feeling fuller longer. Give high-sodium pretzels about an hour and you'll feel hungry again thanks to the high-carb no-fat or protein content. Getty Images (1); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
Which is better for you: Special K or eggs? AP; Getty Images
Answer: Eggs In the morning, you want a meal that will fill you up. Eggs offer protein and fat for satiety, but Special K cereal really only offers carbs and, well, air. If you want carbs to kick off the day, you're better off pairing eggs with a slice of 100% whole grain toast. Getty Images (1); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
Which is better for you: Fat free salad dressing or regular salad dressing? Tara Johnson for TIME
Answer: Regular salad dressingTo absorb fat soluble vitamins like Vitamins E and K in vegetables you need to consume them with a fat to aid nutrient absorption. Fat-free dressing, meanwhile, is low-calorie but gets its flavor from added sugar and salt. Tara Johnson for TIME (5); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
Which is better for you: A low fat cookie or dark chocolate? Getty Images (2)
Answer: Dark chocolate “People believe fat free is calorie free,” says Keri Gans, a registered dietitian in New York City. “Go for the real thing.” Fat free cookies tend to be high in carbs, sugar and fake sugar. Try a nice piece of antioxidant-rich dark chocolate instead. Getty Images (2); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
Which is better for you: Low fat Greek yogurt or 100 calorie Yoplait yogurt? Tara Johnson for TIME
Answer: 2% Greek YogurtA little fat is good in the morning to keep you full—plus it has upwards of 17g of protein per container. Fat-free "fruit" yogurt is high in sugar—7 to 10 g per serving—and lower in protein. Tara Johnson for TIME (2); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
**7\. Coffee may help your hearing.** Regularly consuming caffeine may help [prevent tinnitus](http://www.realsimple.com/health/preventative-health/caffeine-tinnitus), a persistent ringing in the ear. Women who drank one and a half cups of coffee a day were 15% more likely to develop tinnitus than those who drank four to six cups, according to a study of 65,000 women published in the _American Journal of Medicine_.
**8\. Coffee could lead to a healthier liver.** Drinking both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee may lower liver enzymes associated with inflammation, according to a 28,000-person study conducted by researchers at the National Cancer Institute. Participants who drank at least three cups of coffee per day showed lower levels of the potentially harmful enzymes than those who did not drink coffee.
**9\. Coffee might help you live longer.** Drinking two to six (or more) cups of coffee per day could lower the risk of dying by 10 percent for men and 15 percent for women, according to a study of over 200,000 men and 170,000 women (ages 50 to 71) in _The New England Journal of Medicine_. (The data was adjusted to discount the effects of unhealthy habits, such as smoking, since regular coffee drinkers also tended to be regular drinkers and meat-eaters.)
_This_ [_article_](http://www.realsimple.com/health/nutrition-diet/healthy-eating/coffee-is-good-for-health) _originally appeared on_ [_RealSimple.com_](http://www.realsimple.com/)_._
_More from Real Simple:_
* [6 Delicious Ways to Cook With Parsley](http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/shopping-storing/herbs-spices/delicious-parsley-recipes?xid=time-rs-012615)
* [10 Cheeses You Probably Aren’t Eating (But Should Be)](http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/recipe-collections-favorites/popular-ingredients/cheeses-you-should-be-eating?xid=time-rs-012615)
* [8 Scientifically-Backed Ways to Beat the Winter Blues](http://www.realsimple.com/health/mind-mood/emotional-health/winter-blues?xid=time-rs-012615)
_Read next:_ [_Yes, Caffeine Withdrawal Is a Real Thing_](http://time.com/3667136/caffeine-withdrawal/?iid=time%5Freadnext)
[_Listen to the most important stories of the day._](http://time.com/newsletter/the-brief/?sl%5Fautoplay=true&xid=spl-fullbrief-article)
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