Legend has it that coffee was discovered around 850 A.D. in Ethiopia by a goatherd who observed that his animals were unusually lively after eating bright-red berries. Inside those berries were the coffee beans that later went on a global journey. Now, with more than 400 billion cups consumed every year, coffee is the world’s most popular beverage. It is not surprising that coffee is a major force in international trade with approximately 5 million tonnes being produced annually in the 50 plus countries that grow the coffee crop. In fact coffee is second only to oil in international commerce.

Millions of across the globe seek their morning cuppa coffee to help get a start to their day, and most of them drink more than just one cup throughout the day. There are people who swear by it, and say that they just can’t get up and get going without their coffee, and others simply love its rich, simplistic taste.

There have been many investigations into the effects of coffee upon health. Unfortunately many of the early case studies were strongly related to other social habits such as the consumption of alcohol, smoking and lack of exercise. This has led to coffee having quite a bad reputation. For years, coffee was suspected to be bad for you because of the excessive amount of Caffeine. New information, however, is giving coffee lovers even more of a reason to reach for the mug in the mornings. These benefits are:

Cardio-protective: Coffee reduces the incidence of heart disease, because it rids the blood of excess lipids.
Anti Asthma: Drinking coffee can help to control asthma, and in some cases can even be used to treat an asthma attack when conventional medication is not available.
Anti Diabetic: Coffee intake may reduce one’s risk of diabetes type 2 by up to half.
Anti-Gout: Coffee consumption decreased risk of gout in men over age 40.
Anti Cancer: 2 or more cups of coffee per day can reduce the risk of colon cancer by 25%. Coffee consumption is also correlated to a reduced risk of oral, esophageal, and pharyngeal cancer.
Gallstones: The likelihood of developing gallstones is decreased nearly 50% by drinking at least 2 cups of coffee per day.
Headache: Coffee contains caffeine, which increases the effectiveness of pain killers, especially migraine and headache medications.
Liver cirrhosis: The risk for this condition is reduced by 80% with the ingestion of 2 or more cups of coffee each day.
Parkinson’s disease: Studies have found that coffee drinkers reduce their risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
Reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease: Several studies found that those who drank more coffee were significantly less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease later in life.
Tooth decay: A compound in coffee called Trigonelline has anti-adhesive and antibacterial properties, which helps prevent cavities. It may reduce plaque formation also.
Laxative/diuretic: Coffee is also a powerful stimulant and can prevent constipation.
However, on the negative side, coffee can cause a number of problems for susceptible individuals, particularly in large doses:

Acid imbalance: Caffeine can cause indigestion, skin irritations and arthritic flare-ups.
Increased cholesterol: In some individuals, coffee can raise cholesterol, which increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Infertility, miscarriages and low birth weights among babies: Women who are pregnant or attempting to get pregnant should avoid excess caffeine consumption, which may increase the risk for a variety of fertility problems.
Kidney stones: This condition can result from the strain that caffeine puts on the kidneys.
Nervousness, anxiety, rapid heartbeat and trembling: Excess caffeine can over stimulate the central nervous system. This not only causes anxiety in susceptible individuals, but can also exhaust the adrenal glands over time, decreasing resistance to stress and thus increasing vulnerability to disease pathogens and other health hazards.
Possible addiction: People who quit coffee often experience withdrawal symptoms such as fatigue, headache, decreased energy and alertness, difficulty concentrating, and even irritability and depression.
Stretch marks: Caffeine consumption increases the risk of developing stretch marks.
Most studies show no negative effects from drinking under 300 milligrams a day. People are most likely to get the most benefits of coffee without the drawbacks if they drink within 3 cups a day. But all people are different so overall, the decision to consume coffee should be based on your personal health profile.