Coffee is a staple of daily life around the world — so much so that 136.5 million bags of coffee were consumed in 2011 according to the International Coffee Organization. That's up two percent from the 2010 totals.
A whopping 64 percent of U.S. adults over 18 drink coffee, according to the National Coffee Association, up from 58 percent last year.
The steady rise in coffee in drinkers isn't such a bad thing.
There are numerous health benefits associated with that morning cup of joe besides a great boost in energy.
It will help you live longer
A 2012 study of over 400,000 individuals between the ages of 50-71 showed that drinking coffee was associated with living a longer life.
"There was a significant inverse association between coffee consumption and mortality," the study said.
Source: New England Journal of Medicine
It may help prevent Alzheimer's disease
Drinking coffee throughout adulthood may delay or even prevent the onset of Alzheimer's disease, as David Liu of reported.
"Older adults with mild memory impairment who drink moderate levels of coffee -- about 3 cups a day -- will not convert to Alzheimer's disease -- or at least will experience a substantial delay before converting to Alzheimer's," said study lead author Dr. Chuanhai Cao of the University of South Florida.
Source: Foodconsumer.org
It boosts brain power and attention span
Drinking coffee with sugar boosts the brain's efficiency and helps lengthen your attention span. as reported by the UK Daily Mail.
A 2010 study in the journal Human Psychopharmacology found that "sugar-sweetened coffee may be the best way to prepare the brain for a busy day ahead."
Source: UK Daily Mail
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