The Effect of Coffee Consumption on Longevity

It makes sense that what we put into our bodies by way of food and drink affects how our internal systems function. It also makes sense that putting good things in should increase average lifespan by helping the body maintain itself as nature has designed it to do. To that end, coffee is one of those good things. Numerous studies have shown that moderate coffee consumption contributes to longevity.

One of the most recent studies was released in 2015. Conducted by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health, the study explored the risk of mortality among both regular and non-coffee drinkers. The results were not surprising to people who have been following this idea for quite some time. In fact, the results were in line with several previous studies.

Lowering the Risks of Mortality

For the record, the clinical definition of ‘mortality’ is simply the state of being dead. But for these kinds of studies, the idea is to look at dying at an age earlier than average. Understanding and addressing the causes of early mortality is what enables us to extend average life expectancy.

Getting back to coffee, the Harvard researchers discovered that people who drank 3 to 5 cups of coffee per day exhibited a 15% lower risk of mortality as compared to those who did not drink coffee at all. A previous study conducted by the National Institutes of Health showed that the risk of mortality among those who drink 4 to 6 cups per day was reduced anywhere from 10% to 16%.

The Mechanisms Behind It

It is pretty clear that regular, moderate coffee consumption lowers the mortality risk significantly. But why? Researchers haven’t pinpointed a specific answer, but they do cite plenty of legitimate possibilities. For example, research has shown that some of the compounds in coffee can reduce the risk of both stroke and type II diabetes.

Research has also shown that coffee contains more than 1,000 known compounds that could lower mortality, including compounds known as polyphenols. Polyphenols possess antioxidant properties; they also affect gene expression, control inflammation, regulate the liver and fat cells, reduce obesity, and even improve brain function and cognition.

In short, the mechanics behind coffee adding to longevity are directly related to how compounds in the beverage affect body function. These compounds improve function and thereby reduce the risks of various kinds of diseases and genetic abnormalities that would typically contribute to mortality.

It should be noted that research of this type is normally done with a focus on straight, black coffee. Adding sugar and various kinds of creamers can both mitigate some of the benefits and create problems of their own. Also note the idea of moderation. It is possible to overdo it with caffeine.

Galaxie Coffee is proud to serve the greater New York area with the finest coffees, teas, and other beverages. For more information about having coffee service for your office, feel free to contact us at any time.