Coffee may help you live longer, even if you drink eight cups a day, new study shows
New research of half a million British adults shows that coffee drinkers were about 10 to 15 per cent less likely to die than abstainers over the course of a decade, even for those who drank over 50 cups a week
Go ahead and have that cup of coffee – maybe even several more. New research shows it may boost chances for a longer life, even for those who down at least eight cups a day.
In a study of nearly half a million British adults, coffee drinkers had a slightly lower risk of death over 10 years than abstainers. The apparent longevity boost was seen with instant, ground and decaffeinated varieties, with results echoing US research.
It was also the first large study to suggest a benefit even in people with genetic glitches affecting how their bodies use caffeine.
Overall, coffee drinkers were about 10 to 15 per cent less likely to die than abstainers during a decade of follow-up. Differences by amount of coffee consumed and genetic variations were minimal.
The results do not prove that your coffee pot is a fountain of youth, nor are they a reason for abstainers to start drinking coffee, said Alice Lichtenstein, a nutrition expert at Tufts University in the US who was not involved in the research. But she says the results reinforce previous research and add additional reassurance for coffee drinkers.
