Functional FoodAuthor:Lindsay BoyersFebruary 09, 2026Certified holistic nutrition consultantBy Lindsay BoyersCertified holistic nutrition consultantLindsay Boyers is a nutrition consultant specializing in elimination diets, gut health, and food sensitivities. Lindsay earned a degree in food & nutrition from Framingham State University, and she holds a Certificate in Holistic Nutrition Consulting from the American College of Healthcare Sciences.Nutritional informationBenefitsDownsidesPreparationsIs it good for you?Add-insBest time to drink itFAQsImage by tolgart / IstockFebruary 09, 2026We carefully vet all products and services featured on mindbodygreen using our commerce guidelines. Our selections are never influenced by the commissions earned from our links.Coffee is one of the most controversial beverages out there. Some swear by it, and others say you should avoid it in the name of health. So, who’s right? Is black coffee good for you or not?We dug into the science and spoke to experts to get the answer.Nutritional informationBefore jumping into the specific health benefits of black coffee, here’s a quick nutritional breakdown of an 8-ounce brewed cup1:Calories: 2.4Protein: 0.29 gramsFat: 0 gramsCarbohydrates: 0 gramsFiber: 0 gramsSugar: 0 gramsSodium: 4.8 gramsBenefits of black coffeeYes, coffee wakes you up—and that might be the main reason you drink it. But it can have positive effects on your health beyond that, too.“Black coffee offers numerous health benefits as it contains more than 1,000 bioactive chemicals that can promote longevity,” says integrative medicine specialist and women’s health expert Betsy Greenleaf, DO.Coffee is one of the most significant sources of polyphenols2 and phenolic acids in the developed world. Polyphenols act as antioxidants to protect your body from oxidative stress. This can help reduce your risk of a number of long-term health problems, like heart disease, inflammatory diseases, and cancer.Here are some of the most significant health benefits of black coffee that have been studied by science—from brain function and cognition to gut health and weight loss:1.It may benefit brain health and cognitionfLet’s start with the main reason many people reach for a cup of joe in the morning: It wakes you up. The science is pretty clear on this, but in one particular study, researchers found that black coffee could increase alertness and improve reaction time3 30 minutes after drinking it. It was also shown to improve overall cognition and mood at around 150 milligrams of caffeine.In addition to these short-term effects, black coffee has also been shown to have long-term benefits on brain health and cognition. In another study published in 2021, researchers called out that not only can coffee mitigate cognitive decline, but it may also reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease4. (Interestingly, this effect seems to be more pronounced in men5.)These effects are due to the fact that co Read More