ISLAMABAD, DEC 17 (ONLINE): Coffee is perhaps the most popular beverage in the world, with an estimated 2 billion cups consumed globally each day.
\nOver the years, there have been many studies discussing the potential positive and negative health effects of coffee.
\nA new review study from researchers at the University of Coimbra and funded by the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee says that drinking coffee regularly may add an average of 1.8 years of healthy living to a person\u2019s life.
\nFor many years, studies have spoken of the potential benefits and drawbacks to drinking coffee \u2014 a beverage that is so popular, about 2 billion cups are reportedly consumed globally every day.<\/p>\n
Because of the nutrients and antioxidants found in coffee, previous research reports that the drink may help decrease a person\u2019s risk for diseases like type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, liver disease, and obesity.<\/p>\n
Conversely, other studies show there are potential adverse effects to regular coffee drinking, such as increased anxietyTrusted Source, a trigger for migraine, sleeping issuesTrusted Source, and gastrointestinal issuesTrusted Source.<\/p>\n
Now, a new review of the existing literature conducted by researchers at the University of Coimbra in Portugal says that drinking coffee regularly may add an average of 1.8 years of healthy living to a person\u2019s life.<\/p>\n
The review was funded by the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee (ISIC), the collective nonprofit organisation set up by companies from the coffee industry, including illycaff\u00e8, JDE Peet\u2019s, Lavazza, Nestl\u00e9, Paulig, and Tchibo.<\/p>\n
It was recently published in the journal Ageing Research Reviews.<\/p>\n
Why study coffee\u2019s impact on longevity
\nIn this review, researchers analyzed the findings of more than 50 previous studies examining how coffee might impact a person\u2019s lifespan.<\/p>\n
\u201cCoffee is the most widely consumed beverage after water, which should justify a detailed understanding on its impact [on] health,\u201d Rodrigo Cunha, PhD, principal investigator in the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology and professor at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Coimbra in Portugal, and lead author of this study, told Medical News Today.<\/p>\n
\u201cModerate intake of coffee was found to decrease the incidence of several chronic diseases,\u201d Cunha told us.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince age is [a] major risk factor for the development of several chronic diseases, it made sense to inquire if the benefit of coffee intake was due to its ability to decrease the aging process,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n
Regular coffee drinking adds about 1.8 years of healthy living
\nUpon analysis, Cunha and his team calculated that people who regularly consume coffee could potentially add an average of 1.8 years of healthy living to their lives.<\/p>\n
\u201cAging of the world\u2019s population may well be a trap if people leave longer but with more diseases and poorer quality of life,\u201d Cunha said. \u201cThus the quest should be to increase health span rather than lifespan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cunha explained that the molecular constituents of coffee affect mechanisms that are linked to aging processes, helping to slow them down.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn simple words, chlorogenic acids are antioxidants that can attenuate the chemical deterioration of our cells and allow for better cell recovery after exposure to noxious stimuli,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn parallel, caffeine refrains the activation of receptors signaling stress and\/or danger prompting a reorganization of resources for optimal and more constant function, thus preserving the quality of our cells despite recurrent challenges,\u201d added Cunha.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, \u201cthere is a long road ahead to understand who will benefit the most from coffee intake and what types of coffee and what types of patterns of coffee intake afford the maximal benefits,\u201d he pointed out.<\/p>\n
Importance of finding new ways to support healthy aging
\nMNT also spoke with Scott Kaiser, MD, a board-certified geriatrician and director of Geriatric Cognitive Health for the Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence Saint John\u2019s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, about this review.<\/p>\n
Kaiser, who was not involved in this research, commented it was a positive, comprehensive review of current literature on coffee consumption.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s encouraging because people enjoy drinking coffee, and it\u2019s good to know that it may actually have some significant health benefits, particularly when it comes to healthy aging,\u201d Kaiser said. \u201cThis is just a review of the literature that\u2019s out there, so there really shouldn\u2019t be any significant bias, but it\u2019s important to note that this work touting the health benefits of coffee was funded by the coffee industry.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI really appreciate the way the authors frame this with regard to the fact that we have this dramatic population aging occurring, certainly in the [United States] but [also] globally, and it\u2019s really an unprecedented phenomenon. We\u2019re approaching the first time in human history where we\u2019ll have more people over the age of 65 than under the age of 18, so it\u2019s really remarkable \u2014 percentages of the population of people over 65 that previously have been unimaginable.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2013 Scott Kaiser, MD<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I really appreciate framing in that perspective and thinking about what are factors, particularly lifestyle factors, practices, approaches in everyday living that can not just support greater longevity, but also healthy longevity \u2014 not just living longer, but living better,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very important to be thinking about these things [and] to think about coffee and other factors that could have positive impacts at the individual and population level,\u201d noted Kaiser.<\/p>\n
How to get the most health benefits out of your daily coffee
\nFinally, MNT spoke with Monique Richard, MS, RDN, LDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of Nutrition-In-Sight, for tips on how coffee-drinking readers can get the most health benefits from their favorite beverage.<\/p>\n
\u201cCoffee studies have become like egg studies \u2014 one day the headlines related to it may read \u2018good for you\u2019 and the next day they read \u2018bad for you\u2019,\u201d Richard said. \u201cThe public is confused about what they should consume, how much, if it is beneficial, or harmful and don\u2019t know who to trust or what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
She encouraged everyone to consider some key questions when thinking about whether coffee may add a couple years to your life.<\/p>\n
One of them is: How much coffee are you drinking, and how often? \u201cKeep in mind these studies are usually using an average intake of 3\u20135 (8-ounce) cups per day to measure benefit, or 400 mgTrusted Source [milligrams],\u201d Richard pointed out. \u201cHow does what you\u2019re consuming compare?\u201d<\/p>\n
Furthermore, she said people may want to consider if coffee causes them any unpleasant side effects before upping their intake:<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you have symptoms of acid reflux [such as] chest pain, burning sensation, throat irritation? [Then,] what do you add to your coffee? For example, adding heaps of sugar may decrease the benefits referred to earlier. Drink [coffee] as plain as possible and unsweetened, or sweetened with a natural sweetener such as cane sugar, honey, [or] monk fruit [\u2026]\u201d<\/p>\n
For those who are sensitive to caffeine \u2014 for instance, they easily get jittery after drinking coffee, struggle to go to sleep, get anxiety, or heart palpitations \u2014 caffeinated coffee or drinks may be best avoided.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf drinking decaf, [consider] what process is used to make [it] \u2014 read up about decaf coffee processes and considerations,\u201d Richard advised.<\/p>\n
She also suggested that people consider whether drinking coffee is an enjoyable activity for them, or whether they are using it purely as a stimulant, to boost their energy levels. If the latter, Richard indicated, that may \u201cnot [be] conducive to long-term health.\u201d<\/p>\n
The source of coffee is also an important consideration when it comes to its impact from health. If the coffee beans are not \u201cfree of pesticides, farmed, and processed responsibly,\u201d or if the coffee is served \u201cin a cup [made of potentially harmful materials] such as styrofoam,\u201d then the health impact may well be negative, Richard pointed out.<\/p>\n
Finally, she advised:<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t count on coffee [\u2026] to be a life-extender magic bullet wrapped up in your favorite mug \u2014 remember that there are multiple factors that contribute to overall health, longevity, and quality of life. If coffee is a coveted daily ritual, take a moment to assess \u2014 potentially with an registered dietician nutritionist (RDN) \u2014 but then zoom out to take in all the other important factors in your world such as the company you keep, the adventures you seek, the good deeds you do, and the learning of what\u00a0works\u00a0for\u00a0you.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD, DEC 17 (ONLINE): Coffee is perhaps the most popular beverage in the world, with an estimated 2 billion cups consumed globally each day. Over the years, there have been many studies discussing the potential positive and negative health effects of coffee. A new review […]<\/p>\n
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