Are you a coffee drinker? There are not many folks who don't enjoy a cup of Jo! But there is hardly a month that goes by where the subject of the health effects of coffee does not make the news. It seems whether in print or on television, the conclusions either tell us to drink more or to stay away from it completely. I don't know about you but regardless of the media chatter, this is what Franz concludes from his research.

Coffee begins its journey to the cup with beans that are roasted, and then ground. The coffee is mostly brewed in a coffee maker which gives you a mug of brown water. But what is in there? Well, there are acids and oils, and of course caffeine. That's why most people drink it: they want the supposed morning jolt. But what some people don't know is that caffeine is a source of beneficial antioxidants. Coffee increases your sensitivity to insulin, which is a good thing. It also reduces inflammation. And if you prepare it right, it does all that with zero calories. Ya, zis is good stuff!

Now I will tell you that when Franz drinks his coffee it is not like what most of Americans drink, so I would consider my cup of coffee healthier than most. The reason being is that I buy organic beans from good sources, I use filtered water and non-bleached filters, and once my coffee is in my cup, I don't add all kinds of chemicals to ruin the beneficial health effects of coffee. Franz likes his coffee black with a few drops of the natural sweetener stevia.

What are some of the other positive health effects of coffee? It can help you when trying to shed pounds as it cab be a tasty zero calorie drink replacing other calorie loaded beverages. It also gives your body an increase in metabolism due to the caffeine. Studies have shown just two cups a day reduces the risk of type two diabetes. There is an acid in the coffee that improves glucose being metabolized by the body. This improves the body's insulin response.

Other positive health effects of coffee included lowering the risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease and assisting in controlling depression and dementia. A study of middle-aged adults showed that a few cups of coffee a day reduced these diseases by as much as sixty five percent. Now Franz is always skeptical when he hears stuff like this but the research is out there and there is no doubt that there are definitely beneficial health effects of coffee.

So, enjoy a cup or two a day! But like anything don't go overboard! As with everything enjoy in moderation. If you want to get the most from your cup of coffee don't add things like plastic creamer, tons of sugar, whip cream, caramel topping, etc. That's all the garbage that ruins a perfectly good beverage. Just have a plain cup of coffee with a natural sweetener if you like your coffee sweet. And remember caffeine can keep you awake so if you are sensitive to it, so stop drinking coffee by early afternoon for a good nights sleep.