More Good News About That Cup of Coffee You're Holding

I'm tired today. Not that that is really anything new, but I'm really tired today. It could be the cumulative effects of getting up very early for almost a quarter of a century. Or the fact that I watched the latest installment of the new Ken Burns documentary, The Vietnam War until 11 PM.

After that, my head was whirring with thought which I couldn't seem to quiet. So, one string cheese stick and a handful of Fritos later, I went to bed and ended up watching most of one of my true-life murder mysteries until somewhere near 1 AM.

Because of those circumstances I plan to spend quality time with my friend Joe today. You may know Joe by many other names: Cuppa Java, Rocket Fuel, Brew, Mud, Dirt, Morning Jitter Juice, and the list goes on.

Yes, on days like this coffee is my best buddy! Thank goodness Consumer Reports has gathered information from new studies touting its many health benefits. Two studies which included data gathered from 700,000 people in over 10 countries revealed a number of interesting facts about coffee drinkers:

They are less likely to die prematurely
They have a lower risk for Type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases
They have healthier livers
They have faster metabolism
Plus a decreased risk for endometrial,prostatic, and colorectal cancers

Other studies have revealed the obvious:

The caffeine in coffee can make you more alert and increase concentration, and may boost learning, decision-making, and performance on cognitive tasks."