Believe It Or Not, Coffee Helps You Live Longer!

 www.coffemakerguide.com shared with Healthy Lombard that finally, this is the news that all coffee lovers have been waiting for. After all the negative Nellies clamoring about the ill-effects of coffee, a hearty news comes our way: Coffee can help you live longer! No, this is not a claim by coffee addicts in fact these are conclusions by two separate studies! Thus, the magic of Science has proven that a greater consumption of coffee could result in the drinker living a longer life.

One of the two is a study published in Annals of Internal Medicine. The study explores the relation between coffee consumption and mortality. The study was conducted in 521,330 people scattered around 10 European countries. The scientists observed the liver function and metabolic health in relation to coffee consumption. After a period of time, it was noticed that subjects that had been consuming coffee had a lower mortality rate. Finally, the study mentions that drinking coffee is directly related to reduced risk of dying from various causes and the relationship of coffee and mortality did not vary by the country.

The second study, again published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, tried a more inclusive approach and studied non-white sections of the population. This study included 185,855 people with diverse background and ethnicities like Native Hawaiians, African Americans, Latinos, and Japanese Americans. This study declared that the result is the same as the first study irrespective of the race of the person participating in the study. Thus, coffee increases longevity in general despite varied race, lifestyle, and dietary preferences. Interestingly, the study claimed that those who drank 2-4 cups of coffee in a day had 18% lower risk of dying than those who did not consume the beverage.

The result stands true immaterial of the procedure used to make the coffee and accounts for even decaffeinated coffee. Coffee has a positive effect on the heart and stomach, thus, aiding cardiovascular and digestive processes. Therefore, going by the study, an extra cup of coffee when consumed daily could extend a man’s life by three months and a woman’s life by one month, provided that this estimate is not considering any other external influences and factors.

Why Coffee Helps?

Coffee is a beverage that is a mixture of complex compounds that have specific biological effects on the body. It is a well-established fact that drinking coffee can make one feel alert and more active temporarily. The scientific community has found that certain compounds present in coffee contain neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory qualities that reduce the risk of illnesses like the Parkinson’s Disease. In fact, in the study with European members found that subjects that were consuming coffee regularly had lower degree of inflammation, better glucose control, and healthier lipid profiles than those who didn’t drink coffee.

The studies segregated the smokers from the non-smokers because of their differing mortalities. However, it was found that this inverse risk effect still exists even in the coffee drinking smokers. Even though coffee may not even out the effects of smoking, it still contributes significantly in reducing your risk factor even if you are a smoker! Previous studies have outlined that drinking coffee reduces the risk of diabetes, heart problems, and strokes.

What are the Caveats of These Findings?

While the idea may be alluring to immediately go on a grocery trip and lay your hands on these beans, there may be some fine print to these findings. To begin with, the specific compound that makes such an invaluable contribution to the benefits of coffee has not been identified and clearly defined. Moreover, the study leaves out a plethora of external factors like the income of the subjects participating in the study. Higher income is directly related to longevity. Furthermore, coffee drinkers could be spending their coffee rounds in socializing that can contribute to emotional and therefore physical wellness. Also, the general health and well-being of the participants prior to the study was also not assessed. The medical history containing important information like prevalence of diabetes, strokes, and heart attacks were not collected. It may be possible that certain people may be refraining from drinking coffee due to previous illnesses. This gains a greater importance considering that a large chunk of the European population consumes coffee regularly and there could be some underlying medical conditions.

Scientists also find it ridiculous that smokers were included in this study primarily because even if they reduce their mortality by 10% on drinking coffee, they are causing a greater damage by smoking. Thus, it may lead to the false belief that drinking more cups of coffee will counter the ill-effects of smoking. Another worrying trend was that higher coffee consumption was linked to a greater risk of ovarian cancer in women. The studies also do not observe the effects of coffee on already unwell people. Other side effects of drinking coffee excessively includes irregular heartbeat, general agitation, and for some individuals – digestion problems.

Is Coffee Really Good for Health?

So with all the conflicting information, you may be left wondering if coffee is good or bad for your health. Unfortunately, there is no consensus on this predicament. Most studies are contradictory in nature.

Earlier reports have often advised against drinking coffee to the increased risk of heart disease and stunted growth. Researchers believe that coffee drinkers can become addicted to the high levels of energy provided by caffeine and eventually, when the body becomes more accustomed to the caffeine levels, the body will crave more and more caffeine in stronger doses. The cycle will lead to caffeine addiction. Stomach ulcers, heartburns, and other stomach ailments were also attributed to coffee consumption.

However, recent studies have pointed out the benefits of coffee. It was discovered that the chemicals and compounds present in coffee have the capacity to protect an individual against type 2 diabetes. The cafestol and caffeic acid present in coffee allowed a greater secretion of insulin, thereby regulating the blood sugar level. Similarly, coffee reduces the possibility of an occurrence of a stroke since the beverage keeps the blood vessels supple and healthy. In fact, this quality also protects the person from arteriosclerosis, which eventually causes heart attacks. The antioxidant action of coffee has effect on even cancerous cells. Any other age-related disease of the mind like Dementia, is also controlled by coffee. The problem with caffeine addiction is grave since it is not usually considered a troubling addiction even though the person may exhibit typical withdrawal symptoms.

How Much Coffee is Enough Coffee?

Excess of anything is harmful. As a rule of thumb, researchers suggest that up to 4 eight-ounce cups daily constitute as moderate coffee drinking and is safe. In the US, it is equivalent to one Java. Sipping on your coffee mug for longer duration could possibly be a positive step towards good health.

 

Therefore, the effects of coffee on the body depend on an array of factors, both physical and external and hence it cannot be universally concluded whether it is good for health or not. However, the studies are showing a positive trend towards the perception of coffee and hopefully, in due time researchers would discover even more benefits of having this amazing drink! The encouraging takeaway is that coffee is not all that bad for your health as previous studies may have suggested and having your regular cup in moderation will definitely in one way or the other, help you live longer.

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