9 Healthy Reasons To Indulge Your Coffee Cravings

6. Breast cancer. Women who drank boiled Scandinavian coffee, which is similar to stronger French press, Turkish, or Greek varieties, more than four times a day had a reduced risk of breast cancer when compared to women who drank it less than once a day, according to a 2010 study published in the journal Cancer Causes Control.

An important note: Because the coffee wasn’t filtered, it contained up to 80 times as many coffee-specific fatty acids, which have been linked to slower growth of cancerous cells.

7. Heart disease. Drinking 3 to 4 cups of coffee per day can lower your risk of developing clogged arteries, an indicator of heart disease, according to a March 2015 study published in the journal Heart. A 2006 study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, which tracked 27,000 women for 15 years, also found that post-menopausal women who drank 1 to 3 cups of coffee per day lowered their risk of death from cardiovascular disease and other inflammatory diseases.

8. Throat and mouth cancers. Although the research on coffee’s cancer-fighting properties has been mixed, a 2012 study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that the caffeinated kind may guard against death from throat and mouth cancers. Compared with coffee abstainers, those who drank more than four cups daily had about half the risk of death from certain mouth and throat cancers.

One coffee caveat: Most health experts agree it’s wise to limit your intake to a few cups a day — that’s a standard 8-ounce mug, not the super-sized beverages many coffee shops offer. Overdoing it can lead to interrupted sleep or insomnia, stomachaches, a racing heart, nervousness, irritability, and nausea. Remember, we’re talking coffee with a splash of milk — not loaded with whipped cream and sugary syrups. “Adding a lot of calories to your coffee can actually raise your risk for diseases like stroke and diabetes,” says Keri Gans, RD, a nutritionist in private practice in New York City.

Also, doctors recommend that pregnant women or people with certain health issues, such as high blood pressure or high blood sugar, limit their caffeine intake. Talk to your doctor if you’re concerned about how much coffee is safe for you.

?9 Healthy Reasons To Indulge Your Coffee Cravings originally appeared on Everyday Health. 

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