I’ve never thought of coffee as a super food.

Instead, I’ve viewed it as a necessary evil. Something I love to drink in the morning.

A beverage I managed to give up for a few years.

But couldn’t stay away for long.

I always assumed coffee was a necessary evil for me. Not great for me. But one of my few vices.

Then I started hearing about the health benefits of coffee.

Apparently, it’s not all that bad for us. It may even be good for us.

This I’m so happy to know. Because I suffer from chronic nerve pain and I want to keep drinking coffee.

Now, I’m becoming aware that coffee contains small amounts of trace minerals, as well as antioxidants.

It’s not exactly as good as downing a bowl of leafy greens. But it’s not devoid of nutrition. Unlike soda or flavored carbonated water.

So unless you have a medical condition that prevents you from drinking coffee, it’s comforting to know that it comes with potential health benefits. (Always check with your own doctor if you have any questions.)

Plus it contains nutrients.

Does Coffee Contain Nutrients?

So how many nutrients are found in an eight-ounce cup of coffee?

I ran a series of Google searches trying to pin this information down. However, I came up with a series of conflicting answers.

So I turned to Dr. Josh Axe, DC, on of my favorite natural health experts.

He explained that a single serving of coffee contains 11 percent of our recommended daily allowance of Vitamin B2. Plus 6 percent of our RDA of pantothenic acid. Plus 3 percent of our potassium requirement, 3 percent for manganese and 2 percent of magnesium.

I was also really surprised to learn that coffee contains antioxidants.

Dr. Axe noted that for many people, coffee may provide the majority of the antioxidants they consume. (He also pointed out that it’s better if they get additional antioxidants from fruits and vegetables.)

He explains that two important antioxidants found in coffee are compounds called chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid.

It was good to hear this reassuring news about coffee from a natural health expert. Because so many natural health experts consider coffee to be evil.

I listened to this theory for a long time, to the point of giving up coffee for a few years.

Dr. Axe even cited research that found regular coffee drinkers have an 18 percent reduced risk of cancer.

He also believes that coffee has the potential to reduce inflammation. (Good news for those of us who struggle with chronic inflammation.)

Is Coffee Nutritious?

Coffee also gets good grades from the Harvard Medical School newsletter, which noted it offers a number of potential health benefits. (Possibly a reduced risk of some cancers among them.)

However, there is some evidence that drinking large amounts of coffee may help deplete your body of magnesium.

(Coffee itself contains a small amount of magnesium.)

But this is only seem in people who consume excessive amounts, well above the cup or two a day (or even three) that would be considered moderate, according to the health site LiveStrong.

LiveStrong noted that coffee also seems to reduce the amount of calcium in the body.

However, all of this has to be weighed in light of coffee’s potential health protective effects.

Is Coffee Toxic?

The good news is that moderate amounts of coffee are not bad for you, and are probably even good for you.

However, I do try drink coffee made from USDA-certified organic beans, to avoid consuming pesticides and herbicides.

I also make sure to brew my coffee in a non-toxic coffee maker. I searched high and low for a coffee maker that didn’t expose the hot water I’d be drinking to plastic or aluminum.

One solution is a French press, which makes exquisite brew. Really fast. Within minutes.

If you can’t find one of these simple devices locally, they’re available online.

Disclaimer

 These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Pregnant and nursing women should check with their doctor before drinking coffee.

For More Reading

The Latest Scoop On The Health Benefits of Coffee

Dr. Axe Coffee Nutrition Facts

Does Coffee Deplete Nutrients?