5 Diseases Coffee Can Prevent

Frankly, we'll find any excuse we can to indulge in a cup of joe - or four. So when the Internet blows up with the latest medical study touting the newest health benefits of coffee, we're all ears.

The latest news? Coffee is now widely reported to reduce joint pain, especially in the wrists, hands, back, and neck. Study participants were tested doing the traditional office work after a cup of coffee (while the control had no coffee), and then self-reported a much lower intensity of pain if they had had a cup. (So if you're crouched over at a desk, like me right now, drink up.) Now, those daily Starbucks runs are justified!

Related: Can Coffee Make You Live Longer?

But the truth is, coffee hasn't always been touted for its health benefits. The old wives' tale that it'll stunt your growth may have been debunked, but there are other drawbacks that make us question the java. Some negatives? Headaches, insomnia (a given for caffeine-aholics), heartburn, and palpitations, reports CNN. And we think it's safe to say that a milky, sugary, fatty iced coffee isn't going to do wonders for your health.

And of course, not every study can prove that coffee will really cure any disease on its own. As Dr. Alberto Ascherio, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health said to CNN, it's more common for a study to find an association between coffee and health effects rather than prove how coffee can prevent diabetes, cancer, or depression.

Related: Coffee vs. Tea: What You Should Drink for the Most Health Benefits

Still, if coffee is a regular part of your morning (and afternoon, and night) routine, you can rest assured that you're doing your part for your body. If you're not a coffee drinker, start slowly, like you would with any new dietary habit. Everyone metabolizes coffee differently - it's why some people can crash after a cup and others stay up all night after a few sips - but it can still have positive health effects. Seeing as we have a large latte on our desk right now, we're happy with this news.

Related: America's Best Coffee Shops

Endometrial cancer
Endometrial cancer is the most common type of uterine cancer, affecting women usually between the ages of 60 and 70. When obese, post-menopausal women were studied for their coffee habits, those who drank two or more cups of coffee per day had a lower risk of endometrial cancer. Another study from the Harvard Public School of Health found that even one cup of coffee per day significantly reduced risk. It could be because coffee lowers levels of insulin and estrogen. No word yet on if decaf coffee also lowers endometrial cancer risk. Be forewarned, though: black coffee will have a bigger impact in cutting risk. As another study from Harvard concluded, the "addition of substantial sugar and cream to coffee could offset any potential benefits."

Related: The Health Benefits of Drinking Coffee

Liver Cancer
One University of Minnesota study found that high coffee intake - more than three cups per day - significantly decreased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of liver cancer. And it's been found in several studies that a higher consumption of coffee is usually associated with a lower risk of liver cancer.

Related: Summer's Healthiest and Unhealthiest Coffee Beverages

Oral Cancer
Oral cancer, or cancer of the mouth, can affect the gums, lining of the cheeks, and the floor and roof of the mouth. Caffeinated coffee showed a reduction of risk of cancer in the oral cavity and pharynx in one U.K. study. But, the risk was only lowered with about four cups of coffee per day.

Depression
The more you drink coffee, the less depressed you'll be? That's what one study found, which followed 50,000 women between the ages of 35 and 50. Those who drank two to three cups per day were 15 percent less likely to develop symptoms of depression; however, the reason is unclear. The researchers said it might even be because of lifestyle; those who drink coffee tend to be more "behaviorally activated" than their non-drinking peers, which could mean they were already less prone to depression. (photo Thinkstock/ iStockphoto)

Death
We're not sure if you can count death as a disease, but coffee just might be the trick to living longer. A study of 400,000 Americans between the ages of 50 and 71 found that those who drank two to three cups per day were 10 to 15 percent less likely to die in the next 13 years. Some attribute its powers to antioxidants, which protect the body from free radicals.

Click here to see more Diseases Coffee Can Prevent

-Marcy Franklin, The Daily Meal