Coffee and cappuccino makers fixtures seem to be a fixture in nearly every American household. While most people drink coffee for the rich taste or a quick caffeine fix, there are, in fact, a plethora of health benefits associated with coffee.

~Caffeine reduces risk of skin cancer: Sorry, venti quaffers, this prevention method is topical. Lotions containing caffeine (both from coffee and green tea) have been shown to prevent the occurrence of cancerous tumors on the skin. This is obviously one of the better health benefits of coffee.

~Have a smile with your morning brew! If you’re a caffephile, you don’t need the results of a recent Johns Hopkins study to affirm that a cup or two a day increases your sense of well-being and happiness.

~Caffeine may reduce chance of Parkinson’s Disease: A 30-year study has shown that non-coffee drinkers have a higher chance of developing Parkinson’s Disease than their coffee-drinking counterparts.

~Most Americans get their antioxidants from coffee: That doesn’t mean it’s the best source of antioxidants, just that it’s the most consumed. But, it’s true, coffee is very high in antioxidants.

~Coffee may cut colon cancer in women: A 12-year study on Japanese women found that drinking 3 or more cups of coffee per day may actually halve the risk of developing colon cancer. They found no beneficial effect from green tea on the colon – in this case, it was strictly a coffee thing.