Coffee has long been part of American life – be it as part of their morning ritual, gathering with friends for an informal gathering or as an enjoyable hobby for exploring various roasts and drink styles – and millions of Americans enjoy its benefits every day. Though its most well-known constituent is caffeine, researchers are discovering that this drink may contain other substances as well. Studies show that coffee contains numerous mood-boosting, protective and health-promoting compounds which may improve mental alertness, energy levels and even protect against chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s and liver disease.

Not necessarily; provided you don’t ingest too much sugar or cream, coffee can be part of a nutritious diet if consumed responsibly. The key lies in understanding how your body processes both caffeine and other health-promoting compounds found in coffee; some people can tolerate up to 400 milligrams without experiencing jitters; genetics and age can play an influencer role on this front as well.

Coffee beans can be ground and prepared in different ways to increase their health benefits, with your selection determining its impact. In general, more finely ground coffee contains more phytochemicals; paper filter brewing will extract even more of these health-promoting compounds than other methods; it’s important to choose wisely; beans grown at higher elevation regions like East Africa or Central America have been found to contain higher levels of polyphenols than their lowland counterparts.

Roasting beans has an enormous influence on their nutritional value. Light roasts (which don’t burn as heavily) tend to retain more chlorogenic acids that have been linked to improved metabolic function and anti-inflammatory properties; dark roasts tend to rid themselves of many of these beneficial compounds.

As far as adding sweeteners to your coffee goes, natural unsweetened options should be used sparingly as too much added sugar will increase calories and negatively impact heart health. Keep in mind that flavored syrups and whipped cream contain added sugar so if you prefer something sweet in your cup it would be wiser to choose plain varieties if that is what you desire.

Keep in mind if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or making changes that could have an impact on your health, such as changing your routine. Coffee stimulates gastric acid secretion and gallbladder contraction so it may be wise to reduce its consumption if you suffer from gastro-oesophageal reflux disease or gallstones. Furthermore, caffeine may interact negatively with medications for pain relief or depression so limiting consumption may also help avoid adverse interactions with certain drugs.