Do Coffee Drinkers Live Longer?
LifestyleCoffee Drinkers and Longevity
Some may call it a caffeine addiction—we prefer to call our coffee consumption a commitment to health. We love it steaming hot in our favorite mug first thing in the morning. We love it when we’re heading to work—or working out at the gym. We even love it cold and on-the-go in the afternoon or evening. But besides the joy we get from sipping on our favorite bold, smooth brew and smelling the aroma of those unique flavor notes (and duh!—benefiting from the energy it provides), did you know that there’s evidence that coffee—and its main ingredient caffeine—offers even more benefits like living longer?
In a study of around half-a-million British adults, coffee drinkers were found to have a slightly lower risk of death over a 10-year follow-up period than non-coffee drinkers. The researchers found that coffee drinkers were 10-15% less likely to die than non-coffee drinkers. In conclusion, a coffee a day keeps the Grim Reaper away—amongst other toxic sh*t.
9 Health Benefits of Drinking Coffee
1. Belly fat—be gone!
Drinking coffee actually burns fat by boosting our metabolisms and helping us maintain a healthy weight. Because we burn more fat, our exercise performance is better too, and even those aches and pains from insane workouts are reduced with a mug or two. Adding all those perks to the energy boost from caffeine, it’s no surprise that a strong cup of coffee is a must as a pre-workout supplement about half an hour before hitting those weights!
2. Step off, cancer.
Drinking coffee can reduce the risk of a lot of different cancers. According to the American Cancer Society, the compounds in coffee increase energy, slow down cell damage and help regulate the genes that repair our DNA. On top of that, coffee (and especially caffeine) acts as an anti-inflammatory and can slow the spread of cancers.
3. Keep that mind razor sharp.
Thanks to caffeine, drinking a cup o’ joe helps you do more than just keep your eyelids open. Once caffeine is in our system, it also improves mental health and brain function, helping you stay super sharp and focused for better overall performance. Talk about your new favorite study buddy.
4. Tone down Type 2 diabetes.
One of the compounds found in coffee can help reduce your chances of getting Type 2 diabetes, which is great news for the millions of Americans that are impacted by it. Grabbing that favorite brew each day ensures that your body increases its insulin sensitivity as well as its overall production, giving Type 2 diabetes a run for its money.
5. Vitamin power for healthy hearts!
We all know that daily doses of vitamins help keep us healthy and our diet balanced. But did you know that you can get vitamins like B12, B3, B5, manganese and potassium from drinking coffee? These vitamins help support bone and tissue health, along with decreasing your risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.
6. It’s loaded with antioxidants.
Drinking coffee is a way to meet your daily intake of antioxidants. Why is that important? Antioxidants protect our bodies from aging and various cancers. In fact, coffee contains as much as green tea and is considered the best source of antioxidants out there! (That’s likely due to the billion or so people around the world that drink it!)
7. Turn your frown upside down.
It’s true that depression affects many people today. But now there’s proof that coffee can quite literally save the day—and your happiness. A daily dose of your favorite brew can help squash symptoms of depression because caffeine blocks chemicals in the brain that cause those Debbie-Downer mood swings.
8. Defense for disease.
Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and dementia can be considered the most common neurodegenerative disease trifecta—thanks, in part, to the aging process. Although no known cures exist yet, drinking coffee is one way to help protect you from these diseases—or at least delay their development.
9. Add some life to that liver.
Drinking coffee is another major “perk” for liver health and other alcohol-related diseases. Thanks to factors like drinking alcohol, obesity and smoking, just to name a few, the rate of liver cancer is on the rise. So now, coffee drinkers can help themselves! Enjoying your coffee during the day can help you reduce your risk of chronic liver disease.
Here’s the bottom line: If you enjoy its taste and are willing to embrace its caffeine content, pour yourself a cup—or three or four—throughout the day. Coffee drinkers live longer, healthier, happier lives.
[Featured Image Credit: Julia Florczak via Unsplash]