There is nothing better in this world than the smell of freshly brewed coffee early in the morning. While some might be wary about ingesting this caffeine-filled goodness, studies have shown that there are numerous health benefits to drinking coffee. Here are its benefits.

It is a great source of antioxidants

A study released in 2005 showed that coffee has more antioxidants than green tea and cocoa. There are about 1,000 antioxidants found in unprocessed coffee beans and more are allegedly developed during the roasting process. So, one of the best ways to get some antioxidants in you is to drink coffee.

Coffee helps protect your heart

A healthy body is nothing without a healthy heart. And one way of radically reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease is to simply drink one or two cups of coffee a day. A study conducted on more than 76,000 male participants has shown that drinking one to two cups of coffee daily lowers the risk of cardiovascular related death by about 38 percent. One explanation for this is that coffee has chlorogenic acid, an antioxidant that protects the heart against arterial damage due to inflammation.

Coffee can make you happy

Coffee lovers have been saying this all along and now they have the science to back it up. A study conducted by the National Institute of Health discovered that people who drink four or more cups of coffee were 10 percent less likely to be depressed. What is more, this happiness is not due to the vaunted "caffeine high," but to the antioxidants in coffee.

Coffee consumption has also been linked to reducing the risk of suicide in men and women by as much as 50 percent. It is thought that coffee acts as a mild antidepressant due to the production of serotonin and dopamine.

It lowers the risk of dementia

Coffee is known to give you that extra jolt of energy that you need when sleep-deprived. Caffeine gives the brain an extra push so it works more efficiently — enhancing brain activity and boosting short-term memory. Studies also seem to suggest that this boost also aids in preventing cognitive decline that is often associated with dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

A study conducted in Finland found that middle aged people who drank three to five cups of coffee daily could lower their risk of dementia and Alzheimer's by 65 percent. The study suggests that this is due to the caffeine which prevents the development of beta-amyloid plaque, reportedly a contributing factor to Alzheimer's disease.

Coffee is great for liver health

A link has been found between drinking coffee and a lowered risk of liver cancer and cirrhosis, especially alcoholic cirrhosis. A 2006 study found that those who drink a cup of coffee a day were 20 percent less likely to develop liver cirrhosis. Coffee has also been found to help prevent the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

There are now more reasons for drinking coffee, aside from pleasure. But like everything in life, moderation is still the key.