What Happens to Your Body When You Drink Coffee Every Day

Your cup of joe may be doing more for you than giving you an energy jolt.

In This Article
View All
In This Article
  • Coffee may put you in a better mood and give you more energy, thanks to caffeine.
  • The polyphenols in coffee may be good for your heart, thyroid and brain.
  • You can enjoy coffee black, whipped, in a latte or even in baked desserts.

The actor Hugh Jackman once said, "The smell of fresh-made coffee is one of the world's greatest inventions." The facts are that almost 75% of U.S. adults drink coffee every single day. With its slightly bitter taste and warm-colored hue, a cup of joe is built into many people's morning routines, sipping it before they can even think about doing anything else. And for others, there is nothing quite like a cold brew or a latte in the middle of the day to help get over that 3 p.m. slump. Is it more than just a convenient pick-me-up? Is coffee good for you? "Research shows that moderate consumption of coffee (typically 3 to 4 cups a day) in healthy individuals poses no significant health risk and may actually provide some benefit," said Elizabeth Shaw, M.S., RDN, CPT, a global nutrition expert, author and owner of ShawSimpleSwaps.com.

Coffee is so much more than a must-have morning drink. It is the biggest source of antioxidants in the American diet. If you are one of the many people who drink coffee every day and are wondering what this habit might be doing to your body, keep reading to learn more.

Why We Love Coffee

Depending on how it is served, coffee can have some pretty amazing health effects. Here are some outcomes associated with coffee consumption that are pretty impressive.

It May Give You More Energy

Coffee beans contain caffeine, a natural stimulant that can help you feel more energized. Specifically, this compound stimulates the central nervous system, helping people get a little more pep in their step.

It Might Help with More Regular BMs

Drinking a cup of coffee (or any caffeine-containing drink) can give you a boost of energy. But it may also leave you with a feeling of needing to go No. 2—and rather quickly, too.

Coffee consumption has been shown to stimulate colonic motility, or the movement that occurs in your gastrointestinal tract. Coffee drinking promotes the desire to have a bowel movement among around one-third of the population, thanks to this stimulation of colonic motility.

Research shows that moderate consumption of coffee in healthy individuals poses no significant health risk and may actually provide some benefit.

—Elizabeth Shaw, M.S., RDN, CPT

It Might Boost Your Mood

Many coffee lovers will agree that a good cup of coffee is the ticket to happiness. And there is actual data to support that idea. Caffeine increases dopamine production and has been shown in research to lead to a positive mood. If that isn't enough to put a smile on your face, we don't know what is!

It May Reduce Your Risk of Alzheimer's Disease

Coffee doesn't just deliver a jolt of caffeine. Coffee also contains a number of bioactive polyphenol compounds that may support certain aspects of our health, including our brain health. Coffee consumption may be correlated with a decreased risk of developing some neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and dementia.

It May Lower Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Would you believe that the simple act of drinking coffee may support your heart health? Research has found that habitual consumption of moderate amounts of coffee per day (about 2-4 cups) is associated with a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, be cautious, as excessive coffee drinking can increase your risk. Stick to a few cups a day.

It May Give You Better Thyroid Function

Research has found a potential association between moderate caffeine intake and improved thyroid function among people with metabolic disorders. Specifically, caffeine intake of between 9.97 and 264.97 milligrams per day was positively linked to a healthy thyroid-stimulating hormone level.

Nutrition Information

Plain black coffee does not offer much in nutritional value for common nutrients, rather, it is the polyphenols in coffee that offer a health benefit. Here is the nutrition information for one, 8 ounce cup of coffee (248g).

  • Calories: 5  
  • Carbohydrates: 0.4 g 
  • Dietary fiber: 0 g
  • Total sugar: 0 g
  • Added sugar: 0 g
  • Protein: 0.7 g 
  • Total fat: 0 g
  • Saturated fat: 0 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 g
  • Sodium: 2.5 g
  • Caffeine: 92 mg
  • Potassium: 124 mg
  • Magnesium: 10 mg

Is Coffee Safe For Everyone?

As with many things, there can be too much of a good thing. Drinking too much caffeinated coffee can cause anxiety, sleep disorders, poor appetite and dependency. And while coffee provides numerous health benefits, certain people should limit or avoid it. This includes people with sensitive stomachs or those prone to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), as caffeine can stimulate acid production. Those who are pregnant, as well as people with sleep disorders, anxiety or an iron deficiency or iron-deficiency anemia may also want to limit their intake, as coffee can inhibit iron absorption. And finally, if you take medication to treat thyroid disorders, like levothyroxine, it's important to limit or avoid coffee, as it can interact with this medication,

3 Ways to Enjoy Coffee

You may be a black coffee drinker, but there are so many way to enjoy this classic and popular beverage.

Coffee drink: Whether you mix it with a bit of cream, milk or sugar, adding flavor to your coffee can take away the bitterness and give you a satisfying drink, like our Lavender Latte or High Protein Whipped Iced Coffee.

In baked goods: If you are making something chocolate-y, there might be coffee in the recipe. You won't get a mocha flavor, the coffee brings out the flavor of the chocolate—basically, it makes the chocolate taste more like chocolate. We used coffee in our One-Bowl Chocolate Cake and One-Bowl Vegan Chocolate Cake.

Alcoholic drinks: Martini anyone? We've paired our favorite breakfast beverage for an evening sip, like this Frozen Espresso Martini.

Coffee Recipes to Try

Our Expert Take

Drinking coffee every day appears to be safe for generally healthy people, and this habit may actually offer some health benefits too. While there are some potential side effects of consuming coffee, and certain people should avoid it, generally, enjoying coffee every day appears to be A-OK. Of course, it's always wise to confirm whether coffee is right for you with your own health care provider before you sip away.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What are the pros and cons of coffee?

    Coffee has its pros and cons. On the positive side, coffee is rich in antioxidants that may offer benefits like enhancing brain function and reducing the risk of several diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.


    However, coffee also has some downsides, like being linked to an increased risk of insomnia and anxiety among some people.

  • Is drinking coffee every day bad for you?

    According to Shaw, coffee isn't bad to drink every day. "Unless you've been advised by your health care team to limit consumption for specific medical reasons (like pregnancy or if you are a female and have been told you have a high fracture risk). Consuming coffee actually has been shown to have positive health benefits," she shared.

  • Is it better to not drink coffee?

    For generally healthy people, if they enjoy drinking coffee, it appears to be safe to continue to do so, as long as they are not drinking it in excess.

  • What is the healthiest way to drink coffee?

    Your best bet is to drink it black, without any added sugars or fats. If this is not possible, adding some 2% milk, oat milk or other low-sugar dairy-free alternatives can add some creaminess and nutrition to the mix without a large amount of added fat or sugar.

  • How many cups of coffee a day is healthy?

    On average, up to 3 to 4 cups of coffee a day, or approximately 400 mg of caffeine, is considered safe for most adults—and can be part of a healthy diet. However, individual tolerance may vary, and potential health impacts can depend on various factors such as age, existing health conditions and lifestyle. Always consult with a health care professional for personalized advice.

Originally appeared: EatingWell.com, September 2023
Was this page helpful?
Sources
EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.
  1. Drive Research. Coffee statistics: Consumption, preferences and spending.

  2. Iriondo-DeHond A, Uranga JA, Del Castillo MD, Abalo R. Effects of coffee and its components on the gastrointestinal tract and the brain-gut axisNutrients. 2020;13(1):88. doi:10.3390/nu13010088

  3. Unsal S, Sanlier N. Longitudinal effects of lifetime caffeine consumption on levels of depression, anxiety, and stress: A comprehensive reviewCurr Nutr Rep. 2025;14(1):26. doi:10.1007/s13668-025-00616-5

  4. Socała K, Szopa A, Serefko A, Poleszak E, Wlaź P. Neuroprotective effects of coffee bioactive compounds: A reviewInt J Mol Sci. 2020;22(1):107. doi:10.3390/ijms22010107

  5. Mendoza MF, Sulague RM, Posas-Mendoza T, Lavie CJ. Impact of coffee consumption on cardiovascular healthOchsner J. 2023;23(2):152-158. doi:10.31486/toj.22.0073

  6. Zheng J, Zhu X, Xu G, et al. Relationship between caffeine intake and thyroid function: results from NHANES 2007-2012Nutr J. 2023;22(1):36. doi:10.1186/s12937-023-00866-5

  7. U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central. Beverages, coffee, brewed, breakfast blend.

  8. Wiesner A, Gajewska D, Paśko P. Levothyroxine interactions with food and dietary supplements-A systematic reviewPharmaceuticals (Basel). 2021;14(3):206.doi:10.3390/ph14030206