Hyderabad-based cancer surgeon Dr. Arjun Shankaran says he drinks coffee every day, and he is pointing to studies that link the drink to lower risks of liver disease, type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and heart-related deaths. He shared the claims in an Instagram post, promising readers a list of five coffee benefits and a warning on how not to drink it.

The post lands at a time when coffee is already a morning ritual for millions. Researchers say the drink’s bioactive compounds, including antioxidants, caffeine and beneficial plant compounds, may help reduce the risk of several serious health problems. The catch, according to the doctor, is that the benefits depend on how much you drink and how you drink it.

Liver health takes center stage

Regular coffee drinkers appear to face a lower risk of fatty liver disease and liver cirrhosis, according to studies cited in the post. Research suggests coffee helps reduce chronic inflammation in the body and keeps fat from building up in the liver.

Dr. Shankaran said that deaths from liver disease are 49 percent less likely among coffee drinkers. He presented that figure as part of the broader research picture, not as a personal guarantee.

Blood sugar and the diabetes question

Polyphenols, a group of compounds found in coffee, may improve insulin sensitivity and help regulate blood sugar levels. Several studies point to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes among people who drink coffee.

The numbers the doctor shared are specific. One cup a day is linked to an 8 percent lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Two cups bring that figure to 15 percent, and three cups to 21 percent.

He also issued a clear caveat. Adding sugar to coffee cuts the benefit roughly in half, so the sweetener matters as much as the cup.

Cancer, Parkinson’s and the heart

For women, research suggests that coffee drinkers face a lower risk of endometrial cancer, a cancer of the uterine lining. Compared with non-drinkers, moderate and heavy coffee drinkers show a 20 to 29 percent lower risk, according to some studies. Researchers believe antioxidants help protect cells from DNA damage and that coffee affects how the body metabolizes estrogen, reducing levels of free-circulating estrogen in the blood.

Caffeine and other compounds in coffee are also linked to a lower risk of Parkinson’s disease. Experts believe caffeine offers a protective effect on nerve cells in the brain. The benefit appears to be tied mainly to caffeinated coffee. Dr. Shankaran said regular coffee drinkers have a 37 percent lower risk of Parkinson’s.

On the heart, polyphenols may reduce oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, which could support healthier blood vessels. Some studies also link coffee drinking to a lower risk of heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms. The doctor said coffee is linked to a 19 percent drop in deaths from heart disease and stroke.

He was quick to add that coffee is not a shield on its own. Healthy eating, exercise and medical advice remain central to preventing heart disease and stroke.

The temperature warning most people miss

Dr. Shankaran’s sharpest warning had nothing to do with caffeine. He said people should not drink coffee right after it comes off the stove. Letting it cool is the safer choice.

Drinks above 65 degrees Celsius are linked to a higher risk of esophageal cancer, he said. He put it plainly in the post.

The danger here is not the coffee. It is the drink being too hot.

That line reframes the debate. The benefits described in studies do not cancel out the risk of scalding drinks, and the doctor’s advice treats temperature as a core part of the habit.

Three rules and a daily limit

Dr. Shankaran outlined three rules for coffee drinkers. Do not drink it too hot. Do not add too much sugar. Avoid late-night coffee that could disrupt sleep.

For daily intake, he suggested two to three small cups, cooled to a comfortable temperature, with little or no sugar. He also recommended skipping coffee after 2 pm to limit how much caffeine affects sleep at night.

He also stressed that bodies do not all respond the same way. People who are sensitive to caffeine, those with sleep problems, pregnant women and people undergoing treatment for certain health conditions should set their own limits based on their situation.

Why it matters for Telangana readers: The advice comes from a Hyderabad-based specialist, which places the story squarely in the state’s health conversation. Readers in Hyderabad and across Telangana who drink coffee daily now have a local doctor’s cup limits and temperature guidance to weigh against their own routines.

The studies cited describe associations, not guaranteed outcomes. Dr. Shankaran said the statistics reflect relationships identified in research and should not be read as a promise that every person will see the same benefit. The real answer depends on individual health, lifestyle and the dose.