New York: A series of reports from scientists are contradiciting the belief that coffee is bad for health.

The studies around the world now confirm that coffee contains tannin and antioxidants which are good for the heart and arteries. Also caffeine previously blamed for affecting health can help reduce the risk of asthma attacks and help improve circulation in the heart.

Other studies have shown that coffee drinkers have a lower risk of developing certain cancers. While yet another study of 60,000 people showed that drinking a cup of coffee a day can almost halve the risk of liver cancer. They also have a reduced risk of colon cancer. And the more coffee you drink, the lower your chance of developing the illness.

Coffee drinkers also have a lower incidence of Parkinson’s disease and type 2 diabetes and there are even some tentative findings that caffeine may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease as well as alcohol-related liver damage.

The drink can keep both gall stones and kidney stones at bay and coffee can even reduce the risk of suicide, according to a study by U.S. researcher Professor Walter Willett.

The Coffee Information Science Centre said the research confirmed the health benefits of the drink what it had known for some time.