5 Recipes for Coffee Lovers

Without a doubt, Americans love coffee. According to the National Coffee Association (NCA), it’s estimated that two-thirds of us drink coffee more often than any other beverage, including water. We drink an average of about 517 million cups of Java a day, and it’s not without perks. According to the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, drinking coffee has many health benefits, including a reduced risk of developing certain cancers, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and depression.

Coffee is an original plant-based beverage made from beans that contain polyphenols, plant-derived compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These compounds are thought to help prevent cell damage and inflammation associated with many chronic diseases. Journal of Antioxidants. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), coffee also contains small amounts of vitamins and minerals such as riboflavin, niacin, magnesium, potassium, and manganese.

Then there is caffeine. According to MedlinePlus, the chemical stimulants in coffee block the receptors in the brain that cause fatigue and stimulate the central nervous system to increase alertness, focus, and energy levels.

Drinking a cup of coffee has many benefits and is important for meeting your daily hydration needs, but it should not be a substitute. all water in your diet. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (PDF) recommends consuming 3-5 cups of coffee safely per day, with a maximum daily intake of 400 milligrams of caffeine.