Benefits of drinking coffee are more than risks,study reveals.

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Meeshika Sharma
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Taste cup of coffee with roasted grains.

Moderate coffee drinking is safe, and three to four cups a day may have some health benefits, according to a large review of studies.

But experts said people should not start drinking coffee for health reasons.The strongest benefits of coffee consumption were seen in reduced risks of liver disease, including cancer.

The study found a lower risk of liver disease and some cancers in coffee drinkers, and a lower risk of dying from stroke but researchers could not prove coffee was the cause.

Too much coffee during pregnancy could be harmful, the review confirmed.

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The University of Southampton researchers collected data on the impact of coffee on all aspects of the human body, taking into account more than 200 studies - most of which were observational.

But Prof Paul Roderick, co-author of the study, from the faculty of medicine at University of Southampton, said the review could not say if coffee intake had made the difference.

He said, "Factors such as age, whether people smoked or not and how much exercise they took could all have had an effect."

The NHS recommends pregnant women have no more than 200mg of caffeine a day - two mugs of instant coffee - because too much can increase the risk of miscarriage.This review suggests women at risk of fractures should also cut back on coffee.

For other adults, moderate caffeine intake equates to 400mg or less per day - or three to four cups of coffee - but that isn't the only drink (or food) to bear in mind.

The researchers say coffee drinkers should stick to "healthy coffees" - which avoid extra sugar, milk or cream, or a fatty snack on the side.

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