Researchers from Semmelweis University in Hungary and Queen Mary University of London analyzed the impact of coffee on longevity over 11 years. It was found that regular consumption of freshly brewed coffee reduces the risk of death by 12%.
In the course of the study, 500,000 people were analyzed. On average, participants were 56 years old at the start of the experiment, and none of them had cardiovascular diseases. The observation of the volunteers lasted for 11 years, allowing experts to identify differences between several groups.
Among the participants, 22% completely abstained from coffee, 58% drank up to three cups a day, while the remaining consumed at least three cups.
The results showed that those who drank between 0.5 and 3 cups of coffee a day had a 12% lower risk of death by the end of the study compared to those who did not consume coffee. This group also had a 17% lower chance of dying from cardiovascular diseases and a 21% lower chance of having a stroke compared to those who did not drink coffee.
Furthermore, the scientists noted that this group had a lower risk of developing diabetes compared to those who did not consume coffee. The researchers did not delve into the reasons for this connection, but it is known that caffeine suppresses appetite, which may contribute to lower obesity levels and related diseases.
The authors of the study emphasized that people who drank more than three cups of coffee a day did not suffer from high blood pressure. However, their mortality rates were comparable to those who did not drink coffee!
Nevertheless, when the group investigated the impact of different types of coffee on health, it turned out that those who consumed instant coffee did not receive any health benefits. The researchers suggested that this is related to differences in the methods of preparing the beverage.
Instant coffee contains more caffeine and antioxidants, but it also has twice as much acrylamide—a substance linked to an increased risk of cancer and nerve damage.
Interestingly, cardiovascular MRI results showed that those who drank coffee had healthier hearts. Participants who consumed moderate or large amounts of coffee had enlarged heart ventricles, indicating they could pump more blood.
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