Grab a Latte, It Could Be Good for You

Get this: Coffee's not bad for you, and it could have health benefits. New studies do a better job of separating the effects of coffee from those of its formerly frequent partner, cigarettes, the Los Angeles Times reports. And when you look beyond caffeine, "coffee is a complex beverage with hundreds, if not thousands, of bioactive ingredients," a Canadian researcher notes. Among the health benefits:

• Diabetes: Studies suggest the chlorogenic acid in coffee cuts the risk for Type 2 diabetes.

• Heart disease and stroke: Coffee doesn't raise the risk and could slightly reduce your chance of a stroke.
• Cirrhosis: Either coffee or its caffeine seems to protect the liver.
• Parkinson's disease: Caffeine cuts the risk, especially in men.
• Athletic performance: Caffeine boosts performance by making your muscles work better.

(More coffee stories.)