Researchers from the University of Cambridge in England monitored nearly 23,000 men and women over a 12-year period and found that "self-reported coffee consumption was inversely related to stroke risk."
In the study, individuals who drank coffee on a regular basis had a 27 percent decreased risk of having a stroke compared to those who never consumed the beverage. The researchers found that the results were consistent irrespective of which type of coffee was consumed, including caffeinated, decaffeinated, instant or ground.
"This association was consistent in subgroup analyses stratified by sex, age, social class, educational level, smoking status, alcohol drinking, tea drinking, physical activity, plasma vitamin C and diabetes status," said study leader Yangmei Li, an epidemiologist at the university.
Although the researchers suspect the antioxidants in coffee help lower inflammation in the blood vessels, additional studies need to be conducted to understand the perceived health benefits of consuming the beverage.
Separate studies have also indicated that drinking coffee and tea may help reduce the risk of developing diabetes.'