Iowan’s That Drink Black Coffee: Psycho, Super Healthy, or Both?!

I have been drinking black coffee since I was about 8 years old, if I remember correctly (ok, that sounds a bit crazy already). Growing up, my neighbor lady (our landlord's wife, Celestia) always served it to me straight with some cookies after I mowed her lawn, or if I was helping my dad with farm chores. Since then, it's always been black coffee for me, which apparently means I'm either a bit of a psychopath or just healthier than those needing a few lumps of sugar in their morning fuel. Here's what I mean.

According to studies found at ScienceDirect.com, one from the Journal of Nutrition, both options (psycho/healthy) are on the table when it comes to those of us who enjoy their coffee, and nothing else. One study tracked over 46,000 Americans for nearly two decades and found that one cup of black coffee a day lowered the risk of death by 16%. Two to three cups? Even better. But here’s the kicker: add cream or sugar, and you lose that magic. So, fellow Iowans, that black cup of joe in the morning might be quietly helping you live longer while everyone else fumbles for their sweetener.

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Then there’s the slightly spicier side of the story. Research in the journal Appetite found that people who prefer black coffee may also score a bit higher on traits linked to psychopathy. Hey now, don't shoot the messenger, it's not in a “call the authorities” kind of way. Rather, it's in the way some people enjoy intense flavors. For certain drinks (spirits and wine included), tolerating discomfort is part of the experience and thrill of the beverage. Basically, black coffee drinkers might be bold, independent, and a little mysterious. By the way, the benefits of black coffee totally outweigh those creepy vibes... I hope.

So, if you’re an Iowan sipping black coffee while the cornfields roll by, I'm right there with you, every single day. Your coffee habit, and mine, might be keeping us sharp, healthy, and maybe a wee bit intense by cup three. Next time someone offers to “fix” your coffee with cream and sugar, you can smile, nod, and silently enjoy your daily rebellion against that societal sweet tooth.

Coffee is personal for everyone. It’s fuel for some, a ritual for others. I guess it's a little sliver of who we are, or could be. So kudos, my black coffee lovers: we’re probably living longer, thinking sharper, and maybe, just maybe, we're a tad bit psycho. Hey, at least we're not boring; cheers to that.