Why Coffee is Good for You

To drink or not to drink coffee? That is the question. Here are the reasons why you should.

Research-based reasons to reach for a coffee:

-- Coffee may protect against type 2 diabetes

-- Coffee may help prevent Parkinson's disease

-- Coffee may lower the risk of liver, colon and endometrial cancers

-- Coffee may help prevent liver disease

-- Coffee may be good for the heart

-- Coffee may lower the risk of stroke

-- High coffee intake may reduce the recurrence or slower the progression of prostate cancer

-- Coffee may protect our eyes against diseases that can cause blindness

-- Tinnitus and depression are less common in women who drink more coffee

-- Drinking up to five cups of coffee a day may help prevent atherosclerosis

-- Coffee may lower the risk for Alzheimer's disease

Researchers have identified more than a thousand antioxidants in unprocessed coffee beans and hundreds resulting from the roasting process. In fact, studies find coffee is the number one source of antioxidants in our diet.

One homeopathy expert says that whenever you have something that grows from the earth and is richly colored, the amount of antioxidants is more than the usual amount. The antioxidants in coffee are concentrated to a high degree because it's a very dark color.

As for when to DRINK DECAF instead? If you suffer from migraines, anxiety disorder, gastrointestinal problems, endometriosis, hypertension, insomnia, and cardiac arrhythmias or are pregnant, experts say make it a decaf.