Study Indicates Coffee Intake Linked to Healthy Aging in Women
If you require a cup of coffee to start your day, there’s some exciting news. A study shared at the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition indicates that your caffeine boost can indeed contribute to healthier aging. This study, which is still undergoing peer review and has not been officially published, represents the conclusion of three decades of research.
The findings were revealed by Dr. Sara Mahdavi, a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, and an adjunct faculty member at the University of Toronto’s Department of Nutritional Sciences. Commencing in the early 1980s, the study tracked nearly 50,000 women involved in the Nurses’ Health Study. The health and dietary information from these 47,513 women was gathered over thirty years, providing valuable insights into the aging process.
Throughout this period, the women reported their caffeine consumption, specifically their coffee intake. In 2016, when they were in their 70s, researchers identified a smaller subset of 3,706 who fulfilled the criteria for “healthy aging.” In a surprising twist, this group of women typically consumed three small cups of coffee (equivalent to one and a half large cups by current standards) daily from ages 45 to 60. Within the healthy group, each extra cup of coffee a day was linked to a 2% to 5% increase in their chances of maintaining good health later in life.
“These preliminary findings indicate that small, consistent habits can influence long-term health,” states Dr. Mahdavi. “Moderate coffee consumption may provide some protective benefits when paired with other healthy habits like regular physical activity, a balanced diet, and refraining from smoking. Although this study reinforces previous findings suggesting a connection between coffee consumption and healthy aging, the advantages of coffee are relatively minor compared to the effects of a comprehensive healthy lifestyle and merit further exploration.”
Interestingly, the researchers did not discover a significant relationship between tea or decaffeinated coffee consumption and successful aging. Additionally, while soda is another source of caffeine, the data indicated that each small glass of soda correlated with a 20% to 26% decreased likelihood of healthy aging.
With these findings, researchers will start exploring how particular compounds in coffee interact with genetic and metabolic markers of aging, especially in women. Understanding these processes might pave the way for a new realm of personalized medicine aimed at promoting longevity and cognitive health.
However, if you view this as a reason to up your coffee intake, the researchers warn that, as a general guideline, consuming up to two cups of coffee daily should be safe and potentially advantageous for most individuals. Beyond that, some might find benefits, while others could experience negative effects. Thus, moderation remains crucial. Nevertheless, as you enjoy your morning coffee, you can feel good about its potential long-term benefits.
A recent study has associated coffee consumption with healthy aging, particularly in women.
Source: [Brewed for longevity: drinking coffee linked with healthy aging in women](https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1084789)
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