First things first, one of the main components in coffee that is up for question is caffeine. The drink coffee itself has an enormous amount of health benefits that have been proven over the past several years in a variety of studies, concluding that coffee is one of the number one drinks that is actually good for you, rivaling the effects of green tea. The fact that coffee is chock full of antioxidants makes it one of the many ways that American Java drinkers get their source of antioxidants daily, much more so than green tea.

Both coffee and green tea have amounts of caffeine in them, though if you are sensitive to caffeine in general, there are numerous varieties of coffee that come decaffeinated, though they still contain trace amounts of caffeine. If you are looking for decaffeinated coffee, then make sure that you are buying the varieties that are decaffeinated through the Swiss Water Process because it is much more natural and does not involve chemicals in the decaffeination. There is actually an extract that is used to draw the caffeine content out of the beans, without any additional chemicals used.

Caffeine itself actually does affect the body, but it may not be entirely bad for you after all. If you are someone who suffers from asthma, then caffeine is what you need. It is a bronchodilator so it constricts to open up your nasal and lung passages, allowing you to breathe easier and alleviating symptoms of wheezing, coughing, or chest tightening. Caffeine itself also works to reduce the symptoms of a headache, so it is incredibly beneficial for people suffering from migraines. On the flipside, if you are an avid coffee drinker, you may experience a headache from withdrawal from caffeine, so it is best to enjoy your coffee intake in moderation.

If you happen to have a sensitive stomach, then the great news is that coffee is not bad for you! Caffeine has been rumored to cause stomach issues, like ulcers, but that is actually not true because it works to stimulate the secretion of bile in your stomach, which aids in digestion. This may actually enhance heartburn, but it will not give you ulcers at all. The best way to enjoy your daily cup of Joe is moderately, as well as dispersed throughout the day so that you do not experience a negative overload of caffeine. Caffeine can actually be something that is totally beneficial to your health when it is consumed properly, so it is recommended not to exceed 4 cups of coffee a day.

If you do overdo it, excessive caffeine may cause high blood pressure, calcium depletion, or anxiety, but as a seasoned coffee drinker, I am sure that you know that there is nothing better than Java in moderation. Coffee itself has a wealth of health benefits, so when you enjoy it in at regular amounts, then you can experience the benefits of the brew, as well as the additional health benefits of the caffeine content. Win, win!