Coffee is also a source of chlorogenic acid, which has been shown in animal experiments to reduce glucose concentrations and also contains tannin, which is beneficial for heart and arteries.
Dr. Rob van Dam of the Harvard School of Public Health, lead researcher, now say that coffee, if taken in moderate amounts, can actually prevent colon, liver and rectal cancer. Some experts also believe that coffee reduces the amount of cholesterol, bile acid and natural sterol secretion in the colon.
This in turn speeds up the passage of stool through the colon and cut the exposure of the lining of the intestine to potential carcinogens in food and excretes body wastes via other mechanisms as well.
Norwegian research has found that people who drank four to six cups of coffee a day had a 28 percent reduced risk compared with people who drank two or fewer. Also, women who drank one to three cups a day reduced their risk of cardiovascular disease by 24 percent compared with those drinking no coffee at all.
According to Medindia news, new study also found that coffee contains more antioxidants than a serving of grape juice, blueberries, raspberries and oranges. But despite these beneficial effects, experts have warned against drinking too much coffee as it can cause stomach cancer and leukemia.
Excess coffee intake is also linked to increased nervousness, rapid heartbeat and trembling hands. Expectant and lactating women, heart patients and people who suffer from stomach ulcer are usually advised to avoid it.
