Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Hello, and welcome to Insider’s Health TV. Where we bring you the freshest happenings
in the world of medicine without the quack propaganda. Today we’ll be talking about
how that extra cup of coffee might just be making you a happier woman.
Java junkie, bean addict, coffee fiend… No matter what name you go by, there are plenty
of women out there that are hooked on the brown stuff. And while you should always be
wary of overindulging on your favorite coping mechanism at work, it turns out that your
extra cup might just be giving you a more enjoyable life.
In a study of more than 50,000 women over a 10-year period, the Harvard School of Public
Health in Boston found that women who drank two to three cups of caffeinated coffee a
day were 15 percent less likely to develop depression. And that study is just the latest
to add to a slew of health benefits, including lowering risks of certain cancers and increasing
some brain function.
It is important to note that the study doesn’t actually prove if drinking coffee reduces
depression in women, as it only conclusively shows an association between coffee consumption
and depression risk. But either way, it’s another reason to thank your local barista.
But make sure if you are dependent on that morning, mid-day, and afternoon jolt, that
you still keep your overall health in mind. Even though coffee itself seems to have a
positive impact, it can often come with added sugar and fat that isn’t good for you. Also,
exercise and meditation are great ways to keep your energy and spirit lifted throughout
the day.
But, at least until the next study comes out, you shouldn’t feel too guilty about that
third trip to Starbucks.
That’s it for this edition of Insider’s Health TV. I’m your host, Kimberly Walleston.
And remember: it’s your health. We’re just helping you think outside the docs.