ESPCoffee may be best known for caffeine, but there's much more going on inside your morning cup. Coffee contains hundreds of naturally occurring compounds, including polyphenols and other substances with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Researchers have been studying whether these compounds may help explain why regular coffee consumption has been associated with certain health benefits.
Antioxidants help protect our cells from oxidative stress—the damage that can occur when unstable molecules known as free radicals build up in the body. Coffee contains polyphenols, including chlorogenic acids, that have antioxidant properties. Researchers are investigating how these and other compounds in coffee may affect inflammation, blood sugar regulation and metabolism.
Interestingly, some of coffee's potential benefits may not come from caffeine at all. Decaffeinated coffee contains many of the same plant compounds.
Research has associated moderate coffee consumption with a lower risk of several chronic diseases, but that doesn't mean coffee prevents or treats disease. Scientists are still working to understand which compounds may be responsible and how they work.
Think of coffee as one of the many plant-based foods and beverages that can contribute beneficial compounds to your diet—not as a cure.
