the benefits of drinking coffee

I've been preaching the virtues of drinking coffee since I was in the sixth grade. My mom and dad brewed their coffee in a percolator that sat on the stove. Myself, I've graduated from a Mr. Coffee to a french press and am loving every minute of it.

So ... today I'm browsing through Google News and find this story about how coffee has the most antioxidants of any food or beverage. And it's a legitimate study, too, not one funded by Folgers or Howard Schultz. It was done by an outfit known as the American Chemical Society. Sounds good enough for me.

Sitting there next to this story is a sidebar link entitled, "Coffee: The New Health Food?" Of course, I had to click there as well. Here's what I found ...

• Drinking coffee cuts the risk of type 2 diabetes. "After analyzing data on 126,000 people for as long as 18 years, Harvard researchers calculate that compared with not partaking in America's favorite morning drink, downing one to three cups of caffeinated coffee daily can reduce diabetes risk by single digits. But having six cups or more each day slashed men's risk by 54% and women's by 30% over java avoiders."
• "Consider this: At least six studies indicate that people who drink coffee on a regular basis are up to 80% less likely to develop Parkinson's, with three showing the more they drink, the lower the risk. Other research shows that compared to not drinking coffee, at least two cups daily can translate to a 25% reduced risk of colon cancer, an 80% drop in liver cirrhosis risk, and nearly half the risk of gallstones. "
• Meanwhile, Italian researchers credit another compound called trigonelline, which gives coffee its aroma and bitter taste, for having both antibacterial and anti-adhesive properties to help prevent dental cavities from forming.
• "There recently was a study from Brazil finding that children who drink coffee with milk each day are less likely to have depression than other children," he tells WebMD. "In fact, no studies show that coffee in reasonable amounts is in any way harmful to children."

How much more evidence do you need! Drink it hot, drink it often!