Strategies for Prolonged Healthy Aging: Hidden Technique to Enhance Lifespan and Minimize Chronic Illnesses Unveiled
A cuppa joe in the morning could be doing more than just waking you up - it could also be helping you age gracefully.
Confirmed by a study from Harvard University, coffee consumption seems to have a connection with healthy aging in women. This newly discovered link was presented at the American Society for Nutrition's annual meeting in Orlando on Monday.
The researchers found that midlife women who drank caffeinated coffee aged 'healthily', which was defined as living to age 70 or more, being free from 11 major chronic diseases, maintaining physical function, having good mental health, and displaying no cognitive impairment or memory complaints.
However, no similar benefits were found for tea or decaf coffee, and drinking cola was actually linked to a decrease in the likelihood of healthy aging.
Dr. Sara Mahdavi, a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, explains that the study is the first to assess coffee's impact on multiple factors related to aging over three decades. She adds that the findings suggest that caffeinated coffee, not tea or decaf, may offer unique support for aging trajectories that preserve both physical and mental function.
Researchers gathered data from over 48,000 women who were participants in the Nurses' Health Study, starting in 1984. The participants filled out surveys detailing their diet and health every four years, allowing the researchers to analyze the data across three decades.
The researchers found that typical 'healthy agers' consumed an average of around 315mg of caffeine per day, roughly equivalent to three small cups of coffee or one and a half large cups. For each extra cup of coffee per day, the chances of healthy aging increased by 2-5%[1].
While the study highlights the potential benefits of coffee for healthy aging, it does have its limitations. As Dr. Mahdavi notes, the participants primarily consisted of white, educated, female, health professionals, so further research is needed to confirm whether the findings apply to a broader population[5].
Now, if you're already a coffee lover, this research adds to the existing evidence that a moderate amount of coffee could be part of a healthy lifestyle. However, if you don't currently drink coffee, Dr. Mahdavi doesn't recommend starting just for the potential aging benefits.
And remember, moderation is key. Overindulging in coffee might not offer the same benefits and could potentially have adverse effects[1].
[1] https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/drinking-coffee-could-promote-healthy-aging-study-finds[2] https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/25/health/coffee-health-harvard-study-wellness/index.html[3] https://www.wsj.com/articles/coffee-and-aging-a-link-harvard-researchers-say-11682322791[4] https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/coffee-and-health-a-review-of-the-research[5] https://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/107/6/1620S
- The study from Harvard University suggests that consuming caffeinated coffee may support healthy aging in women, specifically in terms of living to an older age, being free from chronic diseases, maintaining physical function, and having good mental health.
- The researchers found that typical 'healthy agers' consumed an average of 315mg of caffeine per day, which is roughly equivalent to three small cups of coffee or one and a half large cups.
- No similar benefits were found for tea or decaf coffee, and drinking cola was actually linked to a decrease in the likelihood of healthy aging.
- While the study highlights the potential benefits of coffee for healthy aging, it's important to note that further research is needed to confirm whether these findings apply to a broader population.
- If you're already a coffee lover, this research adds to the existing evidence that a moderate amount of coffee could be part of a healthy lifestyle, but overindulging might have adverse effects.
