People are often amazed to learn of the myriad health benefits coffee provides, from reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes and Parkinson’s disease, liver protection and weight loss to weight gain prevention. But how much coffee should one drink every day? As with most things in life, the answer depends on your individual circumstances – but generally three to five cups per day of black coffee would be recommended as healthy amounts.

One study demonstrated that daily coffee consumption was linked with 14% lower overall mortality risk and 17% lower cardiovascular disease mortality risk, though these results weren’t valid when adding large amounts of sugar or saturated fats — such as adding cream — to their beverage.

Studies have also demonstrated the protective benefits of coffee to help lower risk for liver disease and Alzheimer’s. Although results of these studies vary between them, according to one published in Circulation: Heart Failure two to five cups of coffee consumed per day could increase carnitine and triglyceride levels significantly and improve cardiovascular health.

Coffee offers numerous health advantages due to its rich blend of antioxidants, magnesium, potassium and vitamin B2. These essential nutrients reduce oxidative stress in the body while stimulating metabolism; caffeine also acts as a natural diuretic which flushes out extra water and sodium from your system – helping lower blood pressure in turn.

But it is essential to remember that how you customize your cup of joe can have an enormous effect on its impact on your health. Even adding something as seemingly innocuous as sugar or pastry could add up to 800 extra calories; though these extra calories might not harm you directly, they will negate the positive health impacts associated with its other healthy components.

Pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid coffee entirely as it could potentially lead to fetal distress. But for anyone else who can tolerate caffeine, enjoying one or two cups a day should generally be healthy — just remember to keep your drink black with no additional sweeteners added!

People with certain medical conditions, including high blood pressure, should limit their coffee intake as much as possible. Caffeine can have an especially detrimental impact on those struggling to sleep as too much can create an endless cycle: poor rest led them to drink more coffee in an attempt to increase energy, which resulted in further insomnia issues and so forth. It is recommended to limit overall coffee consumption per day to 400 milligrams; which would be approximately four or five 8-ounce cups of regular coffee daily.