New Dietary Guidelines Encourage Coffee Consumption

You should probably be drinking more coffee than you currently do. Coffee consumption has been linked to all kinds of health benefits, including a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It can also help to keep you alert and focused. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services puts out new dietary guidelines for Americans every five years and the newest version of the report suggests that more coffee could be better for your health.

Though Americans only drink an average of 1 cup of coffee per day, the new guidelines indicate that 3-5 cups of coffee per day should be considered “moderate” consumption that is permitted – and, perhaps even encouraged – as part of a healthy diet. The guidelines specifically note that consumption of up to 400 milligrams of caffeine is within normal limits, as the research linking coffee consumption to health benefits has always linked caffeinated coffee, not decaf. The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans will be finalized by the end of the year.