Researchers say drinking coffee could help you live two years longer
Could your morning cup of coffee help you live longer? New research suggests yes.
That's the takeaway from a study published in Ageing Research Reviews in December. But could the secret to living longer really be as simple as sipping your favourite Starbucks drink? Here’s why there may be a link...
The research
The analysis, which was published by researchers at the University of Coimbra, Portugal, examined more than 50 studies looking into coffee and lifespan.
The results
After crunching the data, the researchers concluded that regular coffee drinkers could potentially tack on an average of 1.8 years of healthy living.
‘Coffee intake attenuates the major causes of mortality, dampening cardiovascular-, cerebrovascular-, cancer-, and respiratory diseases associated [with] mortality, as well as some of the major causes of functional deterioration in the elderly such as loss of memory, depression, and frailty,’ the researchers wrote.
What does this mean for us?
It’s important to note that this study was funded by the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee, which is a nonprofit organisation created by several major coffeemakers (including illy caffè, Lavazza and Nestlé) to find scientific information on creating and consuming coffee.
But, the findings aren’t totally unexpected, according to registered dietitian Jessica Cording, author of The Little Book of Game-Changers.
‘Coffee does contain polyphenols that have been associated with a decreased risk of adverse health conditions,’ she says. It also contains something called chlorogenic acids, which are antioxidants that decrease stress to your cells, she says. ‘Because stress can contribute to illness and chronic inflammation, there is that link with longevity.’
Grabbing a cup of coffee with your friends helps you stay socially active, which can also increase your lifespan, Cording says.
But there’s a big difference between black coffee and drinks packed with sugar and fat, with Cording noting that speciality coffee concoctions may even work against your longevity goals. Still, ‘coffee can inherently be a health-promoting beverage when consumed appropriately,’ Cording says.
However, if coffee just isn't your thing, there's no need to force yourself to drink it in hopes it will help you live longer, she adds.
What other foods or beverages could help me live longer?
Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables has been linked with longevity, Cording says. On the beverage front, she notes that green tea and other teas have also been associated with a lowered risk of developing certain cancers and maintaining a healthy weight.
And the importance of drinking water can't be understated. ‘All of our cells are water,’ Cording points out.
Despite all of this, it’s unlikely that one food or drink will help you live longer, she says, adding that; ‘It’s really about the big picture of diet, lifestyle, and daily habits.’
The bottom line
The study suggests that drinking moderate amounts of coffee may help increase longevity – and could reduce the risk or impact of age-related diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, stroke and cancer.
But, remember, for all the health benefits linked to coffee, it’s not a life-extender magic bullet – and it’s really not for everyone. For example, pregnant women are advised by the NHS to limit caffeine intake to 200mg a day (or two mugs). And for those who are sensitive to caffeine – who easily get jittery after drinking coffee, struggle to go to sleep, get anxiety or have heart palpitations — caffeinated coffee is probably best avoided.
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