For many Americans, the catchy slogan “the best part of waking up…” holds very true. More than 6 in 10 of us drink coffee daily, according to theNational Coffee Association (NCA).
In addition to a roasty, cozy flavor and nutty aroma, those mugs come fully loaded with the manyhealth benefits of coffee, including a good dose of antioxidants, some energy- and mood-boosting caffeine and lower risk for heart disease.
Last week, a new report published in the journalClinical Nutritiongave us all the green light to consider sipping on one more serving than usual. According to this new coffee study,those who drink one extra cup of coffee per day may have 4% to 6% lower risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
Read on to learn more about how they landed at this conclusion, discover the best coffee shop order to max out the benefits of your bonus beans, then study up on your complete healthy lifestyle strategy to slash risk for type 2 diabetes.
The Dietitian-Approved Hack That Makes My Coffee Taste So Much Better
What This Type 2 Diabetes Study Found
Taking a cue fromearlier researchthat linked drinking coffee with reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, the scientists involved in this study wanted to dive deeper to try to determine why. To do so, they analyzed health data from 152,479 participants enrolled in theUK Biobankand theRotterdam Study(two large prospective cohort studies involving citizens of the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, respectively).
Next, the scientists analyzed levels of specific hormones and biomarkers, which were measured via fasting blood samples. They specifically peeked at data points that they thought might help explain why coffee consumption might be linked to diabetes risk, includinginsulin resistance, C-reactive protein (CRP), leptin and adiponectin.
By comparing coffee intake with these statistics, the scientists believe that coffee may provide some anti-inflammatory benefits that relate to insulin resistance. By drinking one extra cup of coffee each day, each person had 4% to 6% lower risk for type 2 diabetes, on average. Those who had higher coffee consumption than the norm appeared to have lower levels of two pro-inflammatory markers—CRP and leptin—as well as higher levels of anti-inflammatory interleukin-13 and adiponectin.
Getty Images
Understanding Acute vs. Chronic Inflammation: What’s Healthy and What’s Harmful?
It’s not just about the quantity, the scientists confirm. The type of coffee matters, too. Filtered black coffee and espresso were correlated with the largest benefits. The added sugar content of those whipped cream-topped, super-sweet coffee shop drinks will likely counteract any of the potential health benefits. (Psst…instead of asking for a macchiato or latte, order one of these4 best low-sugar Starbucks drinksinstead.)
The Bottom Line
While this is promising news for those who find themselves jonesing for java, more research is needed to confirm the findings among more diverse populations and over the lifespan.
It’s also important to put this type 2 diabetes research into perspective. In the grand scheme of diabetes prevention strategies, a 4% to 6% risk differential is probably not nearly as impactful as other healthy lifestyle habits. For a comprehensive, diabetes risk-reducing lifestyle, aim to:
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Tell us why!OtherSubmit
Tell us why!
