Longevity & Coffee
Coffee may be one of the most under-rated nootropics out there, and it’s certainly had its fair share of controversy for health. Everything from caffeine dependency to tolerance levels, experiencing withdrawals, jitters, and dehydration, to name a few. However, some of the unique factors that are present in coffee have given researchers something to think about.
               A recent study from the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology has found benefits to drinking coffee—even the decaf kind! Coffee drinkers typically have fewer cardiovascular concerns, except for caffeine-sensitive individuals who may benefit from switching to decaf to avoid palpitations.
Coffee’s Cardiovascular Lifespan Boost
               The research team was caught off guard by the link between coffee consumption and longer lifespan, revealing unexpected mechanisms. Underlying this longevity benefit is the cardiovascular advantage coffee confers. When the researchers followed adults between 40-69 years old for a period of 12.5 years, they found that the cardiovascular risk reduction was up to 20% in those who drank ground coffee. Even decaf coffee represented a 6% reduction in cardiovascular risk, followed by a 9% reduction in those who drank instant coffee.
               These results emerged from consuming two to three cups of coffee daily. Compared to non-coffee drinkers, the overall lifespan improved. Researchers are still trying to identify what components of coffee offer these powerful results; but coffee is more than just caffeine. It contains over 100 bioactive compounds. Decaf consumers can now rejoice; previously, it was assumed only caffeinated coffee provided such benefits, but decaf does too!
        This study didn’t test coffee strength or standardize caffeine amounts consumed. Celebrate coffee’s benefits cautiously; moderate caffeine intake ensures best health outcomes, minimizing caffeine’s potential negative effects.
Further Reading
David Chieng, Rodrigo Canovas, Louise Segan, et al. The impact of coffee subtypes on incident cardiovascular disease, arrhythmias, and mortality: long-term outcomes from the UK Biobank. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 2022; DOI: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwac189
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