Coffee and Longevity: Do Coffee Drinkers Live Longer?

Coffee is one of the healthiest beverages on the planet. It contains hundreds of different compounds, some of which offer important health benefits. Several large studies have shown that people who drank moderate amounts of coffee were less likely to die during the study period. You may wonder whether this means that you’ll live longer if you drink a lot of coffee.

A Major Source of Antioxidants

When hot water runs through coffee grounds while brewing, the natural chemical compounds in the beans mix with the water and become part of the drink. Many of these compounds are antioxidants that protect against oxidative stress in your body caused by damaging free radicals. Oxidation is believed to be one of the mechanisms behind aging and common, serious conditions like cancer and heart disease.

Coffee happens to be the biggest source of antioxidants in the Western diet — outranking both fruits and vegetables combined. This doesn’t necessarily mean that coffee is richer in antioxidants than all fruits and vegetables, but rather that coffee intake is so common that it contributes more to people’s antioxidant intake on average. When you’re treating yourself to a cup of coffee, you’re not only getting caffeine but many other beneficial compounds, including powerful antioxidants.

SUMMARY

Coffee is a rich source of antioxidants. If you don’t eat many fruits or vegetables, it may be one of the largest sources of antioxidants in your diet.

People Who Drink Coffee Are Less Likely to Die Than Those Who Don’t

Several studies show that regular coffee intake is linked to a lower risk of dying from various serious diseases. An important 2012 study on coffee consumption in 402,260 people aged 50–71 observed that those who drank the most coffee were significantly less likely to have died during the 12–13-year study period .

The sweet spot appeared to be a coffee intake of 4–5 cups per day. At this quantity, men and women had a 12% and 16 % reduced risk of early death, respectively. Drinking 6 or more cups per day provided no additional benefit. However, even moderate coffee consumption of just one cup per day was associated with a 5–6% lowered risk of early death — showing that even a little bit is enough to have an effect.

Looking at particular causes of death, researchers found that coffee drinkers were less likely to die from infections, injuries, accidents, respiratory disease, diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. Other more recent studies support these findings. Coffee intake seems to be consistently linked to a lower risk of early death.

One large study found that drinking 4–5 cups of coffee per day was associated with a reduced risk of early death.

Many Other Studies Have Led to Similar Results

The effects of coffee on health have been studied very thoroughly in the past few decades. At least two other studies have shown that coffee drinkers have a lower risk of premature death. Regarding specific diseases, coffee drinkers have a much lower risk of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, type 2 diabetes, and liver diseases — just to name a few.

What’s more, studies show that coffee may make you happier, reducing your risk of depression and suicide by 20% and 53%, respectively. Thus, coffee may not only add years to your life but also life to your years.

SUMMARY

Coffee intake is linked to a lower risk of depression, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, type 2 diabetes, and liver diseases. People who drink coffee are also less likely to die by suicide.

The Bottom Line

Coffee is a popular beverage that researchers have studied extensively for its many health benefits, including its ability to increase energy levels, promote weight management, enhance athletic performance, and protect against chronic disease.

Observational studies suggest that drinking coffee reduces your risk of chronic disease and may even extend your life. These types of studies examine associations but cannot prove — beyond doubt — that coffee is the real cause of these health benefits. Nevertheless, higher-quality evidence supports some of these findings, meaning that coffee may well be one of the healthiest beverages on the planet.

THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW: The history of coffee is a tale of romance and complexity, sometimes bitter, sometimes enlightened. Mark Pendergrast weaves this tale with the art of a master storyteller. From its legendary discovery in the ancient land of Abyssinia (now Ethiopia), coffee became a source of stimulus for new ideas, work, and social controversy.

Traded throughout the Ottoman Empire in the sixteenth century, the curious beverage was brought to the hands of Pope Clement VIII by priests who wanted to ban it. He tasted and replied: Why, this Satan's drink is so delicious, it would be a pity to let the infidels have exclusive use of it. So the Western European romance with it began. By the eighteenth century, coffeehouses provided an egalitarian meeting place and a social context for emerging liberal institutions and the American and French Revolutions as well as modern day STARBUCKS.

THINGS YOU MAY WANT TO SAVE: Save money by Investing in a Quality Coffee Maker Get a coffee maker you’re excited about. It will likely inspire you to drink more coffee at home. Purchasing a coffee maker may feel like a bit of a splurge, but in the long run, you’re likely to be spending money wisely. Making coffee at home will offset the cost of daily trips to the coffee shop.

ZENTRAVELER SAYS: Want to double down on the Longevity calendar simply add a tablespoon of MCT OIL...MOSTLY PURE COCONUT OIL TO YOUR MORNING COFFEE. Records show MCT OIL helps with glucose and weight loss. Just warming up with one cup of coffee aint going to cut it..... drink 4 or 5 cups of coffee daily for maximum results.

From here to Infinity is a relatively short ride! The next leg takes eons and eons as you fly through the Barycentric Dynamical Time Zone! …and on and on and on.  Follow the Zentraveler Newsletter often for Travel, Health and Zen-like stories  and such. Where else can you get a THREE IN ONE NEWSLETTER FOR THE PRICE OF FREE.

‌                                                  

ZENTRAVELER IS A PERSONAL NEWSLETTER, DESIGNED TO GIVE TRAVEL, HEALTH, WRITING AND HUMOR INCLUDING HELPFUL HINTS WITH A ZEN LIKE QUALITY.