Scientists Say A Specific Kind Of Coffee Can Help You Live Longer
Ground, caffeinated coffee has been found to lower risks of heart-related illnesses like arrhythmia
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Enjoying a few cups of coffee each day might be good for your health. A new study says the mood-boosting beverage might help you live longer, reduce the risk of several cardiovascular diseases, and prevent ischaemic strokes. Published in the peer-reviewed European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, researchers found that mild to moderate intake of ground, instant, and decaffeinated coffee were all linked to significant reductions in mortality. But one kind came out on top.
Speaking about their findings Head of Clinical Electrophysiology Research at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, and Head of Electrophysiology at Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, Peter Kistler, who is the study’s author, said coffee should be considered part of a good lifestyle. “Our findings indicate that drinking modest amounts of coffee of all types should not be discouraged but can be enjoyed as a heart-healthy behavior,” he said.
However, the decaffeinated version did not lower any health risks. Only ground and instant coffee with caffeine showed significant risk reductions for heart-related illnesses like arrhythmia. Because the study found other health benefits linked to caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, Kistler pointed to its other compounds as the possible cause. “Caffeine is the most well-known constituent in coffee, but the beverage contains more than 100 biologically active components,” he said via USA Today.
Previous research has also found that coffee can provide an array of health benefits. This includes some protection against liver disease, Type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and heart attacks, the Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins Medicine note. But it’s still difficult for studies to solely credit these outcomes to coffee. Several experts say a lot of other factors also contribute to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
A 2021 analysis in the American Heart Association Journal Circulation: Heart Failure, found that people who drank more caffeinated coffee saw a lower risk for heart failure. Although senior author Doctor David Kao, who is also a medical director at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, stressed the significance of this finding, he explained that more research is needed. “There isn’t enough evidence to recommend increasing coffee consumption for health reasons,” Kao said at the time.
Additionally, research groups can vary significantly. The European Journal of Preventive Cardiology study used the United Kingdom’s Biobank data from approximately 450,000 participants who did not have arrhythmias or other cardiovascular diseases when the analysis began. Instead, participants were grouped into categories based on intake and the type of coffee they primarily drank. But while these studies are increasingly focused on health benefits, it’s worth noting that the side effects aren’t always good.
Increased anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia are among potential risks that have been linked to coffee, CNN Reports. Experts also caution against excessive coffee drinking, saying that a mild to moderate intake is the way to go. Moreover, the beverage should only be one part of an overall balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. According to the American Heart Association, federal guidelines say three to five eight-ounce daily cups of plain, black coffee can be part of a healthy diet.
