People who drank three to five cups of coffee per day had a lower risk of premature death than those who didn't drink.
Adam Rifkin stashed this in Science!
Stashed in: #health, Best PandaWhale Posts, Awesome, Coffee!, Longevity!, Diabetes, Correlation is not causation., hmmm..., Stroke
A new study finds that a daily coffee habit may help boost longevity.
"In our study, we found people who drank three to five cups of coffee per day had about a 15 percent lower [risk of premature] mortality compared to people who didn't drink coffee," says one of the study authors, nutrition researcher Walter Willett of the Harvard School of Public Health. Decaf drinkers also saw benefits.
The findings, published in the journal Circulation, build on a body of evidence linking a coffee habit to potential health benefits.
As we've reported, previous research has pointed to a decreased risk of stroke. And, there's some evidence that a coffee habit cuts the risk of Type 2 diabetes, too.
Now, of course, it's possible to overdo it with caffeine. Research has shown that consuming more than 400 milligrams of caffeine can interfere with sleep and create feelings of unease. And some of us are even more sensitive. (I feel jittery if I have more than one strong cup!)
One study found that 200 milligrams of caffeine (the equivalent of about two cups of coffee) is an optimal amount to enhance cognitive function and mood among sleep-deprived people. But we don't all metabolize caffeine the same way.
As we've reported, the caffeine amounts in coffee vary wildly. One analysis, conducted by Bruce Goldberger, found a 16-ounce cup of caffeinated coffee from Starbucks could contain anywhere from 250 milligrams to more than 500 milligrams of caffeine.
"Not everyone reacts to coffee in the same way," says Andrew Maynard, who studies risk assessment at Arizona State University. He summarizes the benefits documented in this study as "small."
He says this study does not prove cause and effect between drinking coffee and living longer. Rather, it points to an association. "There are a lot of unknowns as to what [may explain] the increase in life expectancy," Maynard says.
bad for you, good for you, bad for you, good for you... :)
i like how the author at least pointed out that there are all sorts of reasons this correlation could exist. maybe coffee drinkers are smarter in general, or more alert in general, or better drivers in general.
we do all metabolize things differently. i know that if i drank four cups of coffee a day i would be a wreck! caffeine just about gives me a heart attack!!! i have to steer clear of coffee and its caffeinated cousins.
This particular study "Decaf drinkers also saw benefits". :)
I do see your point that at this point it's impossible to know if it's ACTUALLY good for you.
I liked this Reddit comment:
Can somebody make - or is there an online resource, that simply lists all the recommended dos and don't in regards to consumption?
eg. Yes to 3 cups of coffee per day, but no more.
Red wine quantity.
Aspirin per day to prevent heart attacks and cancer.
Eggs for breakfast are awesome. etc.
I should have a points system FOR and AGAINST with links to studies.. as there is so much debate around decent common foods (like eggs). Obviously too much fat, sugar and fried shit is bad for you, but why can we never agree on the basics?
IMHO, it's super complex equation and we don't really understand what the basics are per variable. We've got lifestyle history, biome bacteria, types and levels of exercise, perceived stress levels, water consumption, roughage, genetic variability, and belief orientations ( at a bare minimum ).
truth, bill.
Bottom line: Figure out what works for you, and do that.
1:38 AM Nov 18 2015