Coffee really can make you live longer

The secret to a long life may be your cup of joe. Studies show that regular coffee drinkers have a reduced risk of dying prematurely compared to non-drinkers.

Drinking coffee may increase your chances of living a longer life

Two studies published in the Annals of Internal Medicine looked into the drinking habits of over 700,000 people in the U.S. and Europe. They aimed to investigate the link between drinking coffee and death rates. They found that people with increased coffee consumption have a reduced risk of dying prematurely compared with people who consume less coffee or do not drink at all.

Research conducted in the U.S. revealed that African Americans, Japanese Americans, Latinos, and Caucasians who consumed more than four cups of coffee daily had an 18 percent reduced risk of premature death. People who consumed only a cup a day also had a 12 percent lower risk.

Research conducted in Europe arrived at a similar conclusion. They found that people who drink more coffee throughout the day had a reduced risk of seven to 12 percent of dying prematurely. Meanwhile, people who drank java coffee had less digestive and heart-related diseases.

In both studies, they found that caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee have similar effects, which means the life-extending benefit of drinking coffee is not attributed to caffeine. Coffee contains compounds that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Studies suggest that these compounds are responsible for most health benefits found in coffee.

Coffee can perk up your health, too

Aside from reducing the risk of premature death, coffee is known for a lot of other health benefits. (Related: Drinking Coffee Reduces Risk of Stroke, Cancer and Dementia.)

• Increases energy: The caffeine in coffee can boost energy levels by blocking inhibitory neurotransmitters in the brain. 
• Improves brain function: Caffeine is a brain stimulant, which can increase focus and concentration. Regular consumption of coffee is known to protect cognitive and mental health, as well as prevent mental deterioration.
• Reduces risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s: Research shows that older people who regularly drink coffee are less likely to have dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
  
• Reduces risk of Parkinson’s: Studies show that caffeine protects the nervous system; drinking coffee on a regular basis can therefore lower the risk of Parkinson’s disease ranging from 32 to 60 percent.
• Improves cardiovascular health: Regular consumption of coffee decreases the risk of stroke and reduces the risk of heart disease in women. Research also shows that coffee is an effective cure for arrhythmia or abnormal heart rhythm.
• Reduces risk of diabetes: Coffee contains nutrients that regulate blood sugar. Research shows that regular consumption of coffee can reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes by 23 to 50 percent.
• Promotes mental health: Consumption of coffee is known to improve mental health by decreasing symptoms of depression. Moreover, coffee has been linked to lower suicide rates. Many people believe that drinking coffee can reduce stress and improve quality of life.
• Boosts eye health: Coffee contains an antioxidant called chlorogenic acid, which is known to reduce oxidative stress and prevent retinal damage.
• Decreases risk of cancer: A study published in the journal Cancer Letter found that coffee reduces the risk of kidney, premenopausal breast, and colorectal cancers. In another study, researchers concluded that the consumption of coffee lowers the risk of liver cancer.

Many other factors can prolong your life, but you can start with a steaming cup of coffee. For more information about coffee and its life-extending benefits, visit Food.news.

Sources include:

Health.com

Healthline.com

NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov

ScienceDirect.com