The science of why coffee is good for you

Caffeine is the most commonly-used psychoactive drug in the world, and most people get their daily caffeine fix by drinking coffee. 

However, because the caffeine in coffee can affect blood pressure, heart rate, and brain activity, researchers weren't always sure if coffee was actually healthy.

In fact, in the early 1990s, researchers thought that coffee might actually cause cancer. However, a growing amount of scientific literature on coffee and its health affects over the last 20+ years has ultimately cleared coffee's name. 

Today, the overwhelming consensus among the scientific community is: Yes, coffee is good for you! Moreover, coffee may even reduce your risk of certain cancers and other disease. What a makeover!

Watch the first episode of Business Insider's Facebook show "Science the $#!* out of it" to learn more about coffee, its benefits, and how it hijacks your brain.