Coffee may provide your morning jolt, but can it also benefit your health? According to many studies, coffee may help lower risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes and liver cirrhosis; plus protecting against Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.

Recent research from the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology concluded that those who consumed up to three cups a day of coffee had lower risks of heart disease and death compared to those who didn’t drink any coffee at all. Researchers examined data from 468,629 participants in the UK BioBank database who did not have arrhythmias or cardiovascular diseases at the start of this study. Participants were asked how many cups of coffee they consumed daily as well as whether instant, ground or decaffeinated varieties. Over an estimated period of 12.5 years, researchers carefully monitored participants’ health outcomes. Results: People who consumed two to three cups of coffee daily were at least 20% less likely to develop cardiovascular events compared to non-drinkers; those drinking over three cups per day saw at least 17% reductions in stroke or coronary artery disease related deaths or heart failure deaths.

Though it can be hard to pinpoint exactly why coffee has such beneficial effects, researchers believe it could be due to how coffee seems to prevent blood clots and increase arterial flexibility. They propose further clinical trials as a way of further exploring this relationship.

Research studies have linked coffee with cardiovascular benefits as well as reduced risks of conditions like type 2 diabetes and melanoma, including decreased risks of both diseases. One such study showed that risk of melanoma declined 7% for every cup consumed a day while drinking more than five cups each day was linked with an observed 40% reduction in risk for liver cancer.

However, some experts cautioned against drinking too much coffee. Some individuals cannot tolerate caffeine and drinking excessive amounts can increase heart rate, stomach upset or sleep issues – it’s best to find out the amount that suits you personally! So it’s essential that each individual finds an amount that’s right for them.

Additionally, black coffee is often better than milk- and sugar-laced varieties as these add additional calories. Furthermore, having your first coffee before breakfast could prevent energy dips later in the day according to research – although some do not notice a difference.

Although consuming up to two cups of coffee daily should not pose any major cardiovascular risk for most adults, those already diagnosed with cardiovascular conditions should consult their physician prior to exceeding that number.