Coffee has many health benefits. A recent study has proved that drinking three to five cups of coffee a day may slash the risk of dying from heart disease or stroke by up to 21 percent.

"It is important to acknowledge factors which might have a protective effect against CVD mortality. Moderate coffee consumption could play a significant role in reducing CVD mortality risk, which would impact health outcomes and healthcare spending across Europe," said professor Doutor AntAnio Vaz Carneiro of the Faculdade de Medicine da Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal.

Coffee was also associated with a lower risk of diabetes. Those who drank three to four cups a day lowered their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 25 percent when compared to those who drank less than two cups daily. The researchers say that people with diabetes typically have a higher CVD mortality risk, therefore this association may be linked to a decreased CVD risk.

The mechanism of action was not clear, the areas of interest for future research include the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of coffee, and the known association between coffee consumption and type 2 diabetes risk reduction as CVD mortality is typically higher in this group, researchers said.

By Lizitha