If you need a cup of coffee now and then, you’re one of the world’s 30 per cent of coffee drinkers, who use 2 billion cups every day. That’s a lot of coffee, especially when you consider the world’s population is just around 8 billion people.

Whether you enjoy coffee or not, there’s no doubt that when drank in moderation, it has health benefits.

Before you begin, keep in mind that the post is about freshly made coffee, not instant coffee. The nutrients and advantages may not be correct in a manufactured instant mix. So, here are eight reasons why you should make yourself a cup of coffee.

Reason 1: Coffee enhances concentration and short-term memory.
Here’s one reason to justify why you need a coffee break at work. Coffee is rich in caffeine, which helps enhance your short term memory and concentration. Caffeine blocks the inhibitory neurotransmitter, causing the stimulant effect that kick-starts your neurons. This is studied to improve brain activities, such as memory, focus, mood, and energy levels.

Reason 2: Coffee lowers the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
We are all guilty of indulging in the sweet sins of sugary treats. Well, for coffee drinkers, the risk is lower (though not entirely zero), up to 23–50%. Studies have shown that each daily cup of coffee is associated with a 7% reduced risk of diabetes. So if you have yet to convince yourself why you should down a cup of Joe, well, this is a reason.

Reason 3: Coffee lowers the risk of having a heart attack.
Two cups per day will keep a heart attack at bay. Reduced, to be more precise. Caffeine stimulates blood flow and assists a weakened heart that has difficulty pumping blood through the body. Although this does elevate blood pressure, the rise is too low (3-4 mm/Hg) and it usually diminishes over time. Instead, studies have shown that it reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke, especially in women.

Reason 4: Coffee lowers the risk of developing cancer.
One of the biggest diseases that threaten life is cancer, and coffee seems to be an effective line of defence against liver and colorectal cancer. Coffee drinkers who consumed 4-5 cups a day were recorded as having reduced their risk of liver cancer by 40% and colorectal cancer by 15%. Studies have also shown that coffee protects the liver from many other common diseases, such as cirrhosis and fatty liver.

Reason 5: Coffee improves physical performance and aids in fat loss.
Just as spinach is for Popeye, coffee can be your performance booster while acting as a fat burner. Caffeine raises metabolism and increases the oxidation of fatty acids. This also improves athletic performance through the mobilization of fatty acids from the fat tissues. This is why most commercial fat burners and pre-workouts contain caffeine as their stimulant.

Reason 6: Coffee contains a lot of nutrients and antioxidants.
There’s no doubt beans and berries are great sources of antioxidants, and coffee is one of them. Those who drink coffee regularly are shown to get more antioxidants from coffee than from fruits or vegetables. Although low in calories, a cup of coffee contains small amounts of vitamins (B1, B2, B5), potassium, and manganese. When combined with several cups throughout the day and other nutrient sources, that’s a whole lot of benefit for your body.

Reason # 7: Coffee lowers the risk of Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease.
One of the strongest findings of coffee’s benefits is its ability to lower the risk of ageing and age-related illnesses. This also includes Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Coffee protects your brain as you age, reducing the risk of neurodegeneration. Coffee drinkers have a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and dementia by up to 60%. Studies show that women over 65 who drink up to three cups of coffee per day are less likely to develop dementia in general.

Reason 8: Coffee Helps You Live Longer.
One thing we can tell you is that coffee is nobody’s kryptonite. Drinking coffee regularly reduces the risk of diseases, so it only makes sense that your mortality gets level up. Studies have shown that coffee is associated with lowering the risk of illness-related death by 20% for men and 26% for women over the age of 24.
So, have you brewed a cup of coffee yet? Go on! What are you waiting for?