That morning cup of
coffee may be linked to a
lower risk of dying, researchers from a study published last week in The Annals
of Internal Medicine concluded.
اضافة اعلان
Those who drank 1.5 to 3.5 cups of coffee per
day, even with 1 teaspoon of sugar, were up to 30% less likely to die during
the study period than those who didn’t drink coffee. Those who drank
unsweetened coffee were 16% to 21% less likely to die during the study period,
with those drinking about three cups per day having the lowest risk of death
when compared with noncoffee drinkers.
Researchers analyzed coffee consumption data
collected from the U.K. Biobank, a large medical database with health
information from people across Britain. They analyzed demographic, lifestyle
and dietary information collected from more than 170,000 people between the
ages of 37 and 73 over a median follow-up period of seven years. The mortality
risk remained lower for people who drank both decaffeinated and caffeinated
coffee. The data was inconclusive for those who drank coffee with artificial
sweeteners.
“It’s huge,” said Dr. Christina Wee, an
associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and a deputy editor
of the scientific journal in which the study was published. “There are very few
things that reduce your mortality by 30%.”
Wee edited the study and published a
corresponding editorial in the same journal.
There are, however, major caveats to
interpreting this research, she added. This is an observational study, which
means the data cannot conclusively prove that coffee itself lowers the risk of
dying; there may be other lifestyle factors contributing to that lower
mortality risk among people who drink coffee, such as a healthy diet or a consistent
exercise routine.
The average amount of added sugar per cup of
sweetened coffee in the study was a little more than 1 teaspoon — far less than
what is typically added to many sugary drinks at coffee chains. A tall Caramel
Macchiato at Starbucks, for instance, contains 25 grams of sugar, about five
times as much sugar as a sweetened cup of coffee from the study.
“All bets are off when it comes to matching
this with a latte, a Frappuccino, the supermocha whipped whatever,” said Dr.
Eric Goldberg, a clinical associate professor of medicine at the NYU Grossman
School of Medicine. These beverages tend to be high in calories and fat, he
said, potentially negating or at least blunting any benefit from the coffee.
This new study is the latest in a robust line of
research showing coffee’s potential health advantages, he said. Previous
research has linked coffee consumption with a lower risk of Parkinson’s
disease, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, liver and prostate cancers and other
health issues.
Scientists don’t know exactly what makes
coffee so beneficial, Goldberg said, but the answer may lie in its antioxidant
properties, which can prevent or delay cell damage. Coffee beans contain high
amounts of antioxidants, said Beth Czerwony, a registered dietitian at the
Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Human Nutrition, which can help break down free
radicals that cause damage to cells. Over time, a buildup of free radicals can
increase inflammation in the body, which can cause plaque formation related to
heart disease, she said, so dietitians recommend consuming foods and beverages
that are rich in antioxidants.
There is also the possibility that coffee
drinkers tend to make healthier choices in general. They might opt for a cold
brew or a cup of drip coffee instead of a less healthy source of caffeine, such
as an energy drink or soda, Goldberg said. “If you’re pounding Mountain Dew or
Coca-Cola or Red Bull or all these other drinks, they have tons more sugar, all
the artificial stuff — versus coffee, which is a generally unprocessed food.”
Despite the encouraging evidence about coffee,
there isn’t enough data to suggest that people who don’t currently drink coffee
should add a stop to Starbucks during their morning routines, Wee said. And
even avid coffee drinkers shouldn’t use the study to justify endless cups of
java. The study showed that the benefits of coffee tapered off for people who
drank more than 4.5 cups of coffee each day. Past studies have shown that
consuming “extreme amounts” — over seven cups per day — can take a toll, she
said.
“Moderation is good,” Goldberg said. “But too
much of a good thing isn’t necessarily more of a good thing.”
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