The drink that can lengthen your lifespan by nearly two years – and is linked to a lower risk of dementia, diabetes, cancer and depression
Drinking coffee regularly can extend life by almost two years.
It is associated with a lower risk of heart and respiratory disease, stroke, some cancers, diabetes, dementia and major depression, according to a new study in the journal Aging Research Reviews.
Coffee can have several healthy effects, they say, including building better resilience to stress.
The researchers analyzed all available data on coffee and its effects on humans, producing the first analysis of the impact of coffee and its compounds on aging.
The results show that regularly drinking coffee is associated with an additional 1.84 years of life, as well as a lower risk of most diseases associated with aging.
Regularly drinking coffee is associated with a lower risk of depression and dementia (file)
Coffee is linked to longer life and a lower risk of certain life-threatening diseases (file)
It is unclear how coffee can have such effects.
According to the researchers, coffee contains more than 2,000 compounds.
Some have anti-inflammatory effects, while others act as antioxidants, and both types can have an impact on disease and longevity.
Coffee is particularly high in caffeine and chlorogenic acids, which have been found to protect against cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and inflammation-related conditions.
Chlorogenic acid has also been linked to anxiety and stress, and has been proposed as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Researchers from the University of Coimbra, Portugal, said: ‘Coffee should be enjoyed as a wealth of benefits tailored to the golden years.’