This popular, enjoyable habit may be genuinely good for preventing diabetes — and the more you do it, the better the effect seems to be.
In a large meta-analysis that included 1.1 million people, researchers found a clear dose-response relationship between coffee consumption and diabetes risk:
- 1 cup per day: 8% lower risk of diabetes
- 2 cups per day: 15% lower risk
- 3 cups per day: 21% lower risk
- 4 cups per day: 25% lower risk
All figures are compared to those who drank little or no coffee.
A Few Notes
Of course, be mindful of getting too much caffeine — more isn’t always better when it comes to sleep and anxiety. Interestingly, researchers also found that the anti-diabetic effect was slightly stronger with decaf coffee, suggesting the benefit isn’t solely about caffeine itself, but likely involves other compounds in coffee as well.
To help protect your long-term health, consider making coffee part of your daily routine — in moderation, and mindful of your own caffeine sensitivity.
For more tips on natural health, download the free eBook Health Secrets at peacediet.org.
About Dr. Terry Shintani, MD, JD, MPH
Dr. Terry Shintani is a Harvard-trained physician and nutritionist, named a Living Treasure of Hawai’i and recipient of the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Award for Excellence. He is the creator of the Peace Diet and the landmark Waianae Diet — published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and cited over 137 times — and the author of 16 books on natural health and nutrition, drawing on more than 35 years of clinical practice in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Learn more about Dr. Shintani’s work and recognition: NLM Native Voices
Sources:
- NIH/PubMed — Coffee Consumption and Type 2 Diabetes Risk: Dose-Response Meta-Analysis
- NIH/PubMed — Decaffeinated Coffee and Diabetes Risk
- NIH/NCCIH — Caffeine: What You Need to Know