First it was the caffeine that interrupted your sleep, made you hyper, or made your heart rate go up. Then it was the effect that they believed coffee had on your heart. At one time they even insisted that coffee could be another source that could cause cancer.

Now, coffee can keep you awake, and interrupt your sleep, but only if you drink it in the late afternoon or early evening. Coffee can cause a little bit of hyper-activity. It does give you a mental boost and it can make your heart beat a little faster.

Here is the good news, recent studies done on several thousand people shows that coffee has more health benefits than bad benefits. Taken in the right increments and amounts can actually reduce the risk of diabetes by 54% in men and 30% in women, but you need to drink at least six cups a day.

People who drink coffee are less likely to develop Parkinson's Disease. Two cups a day are said to be sufficient to reduce the risk of colon cancer by 25% and cirrhosis of the liver by 80%. It also helps reduce the chance of developing gallstones.

Coffee can also have a cause a reduction and reversal of damage caused by smoking or drinking. This does not mean that you can smoke more or drink more if you drink coffee. It only works if you have quit these habits.

Coffee also helps open bronchial tubes, therefor arresting and preventing Asthma attacks. It is also low calorie, and works as an appetite suppressant. It does give you a mental boost, and besides all of this, it tastes good.