Do Coffee Drinkers Live Longer?
Reading Time: 5 minutes
Are you a coffee drinker?
Have you ever wondered if coffee is good for you - or have you been thinking about giving it up to benefit your health?
Well, before you throw in the towel as far as coffee is concerned, be sure you read this week’s guest post to discover the health benefits of coffee, if it’s good for you, and if it may just lengthen your life.
Coffee is what fuels many of us through our groggy mornings and helps us wake up each day. While caffeine is known for having a bad rep in the health industry, recent studies have shown that people who drink coffee daily may be doing themselves a favour in the long run.
Studies have shown that those who drink coffee every day may have a longer lifespan. However, there are also conflicting studies that contribute to coffee as having links to cancer. With so many alternating viewpoints, what are we left to believe?
This article will show you the health benefits of coffee that contribute to a longer lifespan.
Of course, some people may still be better off without. Keep reading to discover more.
Available on iTunes, Spotify & all major platforms
Coffee Drinkers Have a Lower Risk of Death
Let’s start with the main question on everyone’s mind right now - is coffee good for you?
Recent studies such as the JAMA Internal Medicine have found that a few cups of java a day could seriously benefit your overall lifespan. One study published in the New English Journal of Medicine conducted in 2012 tested a sample size of over 400,000 people. All participants in the coffee life expectancy study were between the ages of 50 and 71.
Those who drank coffee every day were less likely to pass away during the experiment’s conduction, which spanned over 13 years. The study also produced results indicating that after the fifth cup, there were no added benefits.
But you don’t need to drink a whole pot to discover some health benefits! As little as one cup of coffee per day helped reduce participants’ risk of other illnesses while providing substantial benefits at the same time. However, the golden spot for maximum benefits seemed to land at 4 cups of coffee per day.
Other research suggests that the more coffee a person consumed regularly, the less likely they were to die from common health problems. These studies indicated that the natural chemicals found in the coffee beans themselves were the driving force behind illness reduction. Some of the diseases coffee helped reduce included heart disease, stroke, infections, accidents, and injuries.
However, do not hurry to switch on your espresso machine!
Let’s take a step back for a moment and observe what the research is proving. While there has been a link connecting coffee drinkers and reduced illnesses, it doesn’t exactly mean that the reduction is caused only by drinking coffee.
Yes, drinking coffee does provide benefits, but there could also be other factors at play.
The JAMA study’s data demonstrated that the more coffee participants consumed, the less likely they were to die from health issues. However, they did not isolate the exact compounds in the coffee that attributed to fewer health issues.
Additionally, the study did not demonstrate a cause-and-effect relationship between a lower risk of health issues and drinking coffee.
But what are some of the health benefits of drinking coffee?
Coffee as A Major Source of Antioxidants and Other Benefits
One of the attributes that contribute to the health benefits of coffee is that the beans contain high amounts of antioxidants. Antioxidants are found in many other foods besides coffee, such as fruits, vegetables, dark chocolate, and tea. However, in the western diet, coffee is consumed in higher quantities than any of these other foods.
Antioxidants are healthy for the body and can help prevent some illnesses and diseases. They can also reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease. Even detoxing from opiates will be much easier with antioxidant support.
But how does it do that?
“NOTE: Coffee does not equate to caffeine. Coffee contains between 50-400 mg of caffeine/cup, averaging around 100 mg/cup. Coffee is one of the most popular ways to consume this stimulant. But… a cup of coffee contains a lot of things over and above the caffeine. These include not just water, but antioxidants, and hundreds of other compounds, as well. These antioxidants and compounds are the reason drinking a cup of coffee is not the same as taking a caffeine pill. As for decaffeinated coffee? It has a lot less caffeine but still contains some. As we continue, it is assumed we are referring to the caffeinated variety.”
Free radicals have been found to cause heart disease, cancer, and other illnesses. By consuming a consistent amount of antioxidants every day, you can lower your risks for these diseases. According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, steeping ground coffee in hot water helps promote the release of antioxidants, which the body can easily absorb.
In turn, these antioxidants are natural and rich in other vitamins such as vitamins E and C. The antioxidants help promote overall health and are excellent at reducing oxidative stress. This happens as the antioxidants work to get rid of free radicals in the body.
Of course, these benefits are only found in high-quality grinds.
What makes a bean high-quality? Instant coffee, mixed beverages, or other low-quality coffees will not produce the same benefits. If you’d like to maximize your benefits, we highly suggest making your coffee using whole beans.
Take the whole beans that have already been roasted and then grind them yourself. According to multiple studies, up to four cups of quality coffee per day can help prolong your lifespan.
To ensure your beans are of the utmost quality, start with sustainably sourced, fair-trade beans. People are paying more attention to the ethics of supply chains and coffee production in an effort to support independent farmers in developing countries. Even at higher prices, today’s generation is seemingly more willing to pay extra to source quality beans and support growers at the same time. To many, coffee is seen as an “affordable luxury.” As such, more people are willing to spend a little extra to get the best quality beans possible. Little do they know that doing so is actually benefiting their health!
How Long Can Coffee Extend Your Lifespan?
The JAMA study found that anyone who drinks around 4-5 cups of coffee a day would see the most benefits. Both men and women observed during the 13 years found that if they consumed 4-5 cups of coffee per day, they had a 12-16% reduction in death. Any more than five cups showed no additional benefits, but could potentially be worse for your health in the long run.
On the other hand, the other coffee drinkers statistics group had a moderate consumption of around a cup or two a day. This small intake still possessed significant benefits for reducing the overall risk for certain diseases and illnesses. However, participants found that they also had a 5-6% reduction in death risk during the study.
The EPIC study and another from the University of Hawaii also found connections to a lower risk of early death if consuming coffee regularly. These coffee drinkers were less likely to die from respiratory diseases, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and other ailments. This is likely because participants are getting enough antioxidants in their bodies to fight free radicals and prevent diseases.
Conclusion
All studies have shown that antioxidants can play a huge role in reducing early death and ailments. However, these studies are observational. They can’t prove a direct correlation or rule out any other factors which contribute to a lower risk of death.
Although, they do prove that a cup or two of coffee isn’t a bad thing to have every day. In fact, these studies also demonstrate that coffee isn’t linked to cancer but may help prevent it. Either way, we hope that we’ve helped clear up some misunderstandings surrounding coffee life.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!
Bio:
Archibald was a builder for more than 40 years. After his retirement, the enthusiastic electrical become a vegetarian on his homestead. He is happy to keep a healthy way of life with his garden and self-built kitchen. He writes for the blog mykitchenadvisor.com to share the idea that it’s never too late to make some healthy changes in your life.
[Medical Disclaimer]
All information contained in this document is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent health problems. For all serious health issues, please contact a medical or nutrition practitioner. The information provided is based on the best knowledge of the author at the time of writing, and we do not assume liability for the information, be it direct or indirect, consequential, special exemplary, or other damages. In all circumstances, it is always wise to consult your physician before changing your diet, taking supplements, or starting any exercise or health program.