7 Surprising Health Benefits of Coffee

For many, morning coffee gives a much-needed energy boost to start the day. For others, it's the taste of those freshly brewed beans that really gets them going. In any case, it's comforting to know there are many surprising health benefits of drinking coffee.

This is great news, since, according to USA Today, 83 percent of American adults are fans of their daily cup of joe. Aside from its magical powers of waking you up after a terrible night's sleep or helping you focus during a tedious meeting, coffee is filled with antioxidants, according to a study published by Joe Vinson, Ph.D. from the University of Scranton (PA). Coffee can also help you prevent certain diseases, and its even good for your skin, according to Cosmopolitan.

To maximize your health benefits, it's best to drink your coffee as close to black as possible (or use these healthy substitutions), as sugar and cream can reverse the positive health effects of the drink. Along with the immediate, obvious benefits of the energy-boosting drink, coffee can also have some profound effects on your health beyond just your daily wellbeing. Next time you feel guilty relying on your daily dose of espresso, try reminding yourself of these seven surprising health benefits of drinking coffee.

1. It Can Help With Your Memory

Studies have found that moderate coffee intake can help boost memory and cognitive performance because of its caffeine levels. "Coffee creates vigilance and increases your state of arousal so that you’re more aware and less fatigued," says Dr. Seth J. Marquit, Medical Director at Pritikin Longevity Center + Spa in an interview with Bustle.

2. It Can Help Boost Your Workout

Coffee consumption increases adrenaline, which can help increase physical performance by up to 12 percent on average. "Drinking coffee before exercising, increases compliance with an exercise program as well as maximizes your strength during the activity, decreases perceived pain during exercise, and decreases post exercise muscular soreness," says Marquit.

3. It Can Help Fight Off Diabetes

"Coffee consumption, both decaffeinated and caffeinated is inversely associated with Type 2 Diabetes," says Marquit. "In other words, drinking coffee may reduce your risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes. For every cup of coffee you drink a day, you reduce your chance of getting diabetes by seven percent.

4. It Can Help Lower Your Risk of Parkinson's Disease

Many studies have found that drinking coffee can reduce your risk of getting Parkinson's Disease, one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders. But if you drink decaf, be aware that it's the caffeine in coffee that helps protect you against the disease, and decaffeinated coffee does not contribute to lowering your risk.

5. It Can Help Lower Your Risk of Alzheimer's Disease

Coffee drinkers have a lowered risk of Alzheimer's Disease, the most frequent cause of dementia. Just as is the case with protecting against Parkinson's Disease, caffeine content matters when it comes to fighting off Alzheimer's. Coffee also contains an abundance of antioxidants, which could play a role in fighting off the disease.

6. It Can Help Protect Your Liver

Drinking coffee, both caffeinated and decaffeinated, can help protect your liver. Coffee drinkers have been found to have better levels of liver enzymes, indicating improved liver functioning. The drink can also help lower liver cancer risk in those who consume three or more drinks a day.

7. It Can Help Protect You From Some Types Of Cancer

Studies have found that frequent coffee drinks have a lowered risk of both liver and colorectal cancer, the third and fourth leading causes of cancer death worldwide. This is because coffee is high in antioxidants called quinines, which become more potent after roasting.

Drink up, caffeine addicts!