If you’ve been worried that your multiple cups of coffee per day are having a negative impact on your overall well-being, don’t pour your iced long black down the kitchen drain quite yet. 

New research conducted by Harvard University’s School of Public Health suggests that daily coffee consumption could well and truly be women’s ticket to healthy ageing. 

And considering the frightful textures and tastes of the usual trending health foods (sea moss, anyone?), this is the kind of academic propaganda we’re more than happy to shout from the rooftops. 

The study, a long-term research project that followed nearly 50,000 women over three decades, found a strong correlation between regular caffeine intake and a lower overall risk of developing chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and neurodegenerative disease.

The research is the first of its kind to not only analyse the impact of coffee on ageing from a long-term, overarching perspective, but also to do so through a female-specific lens.  

“While past studies have linked coffee to individual health outcomes, our study is the first to assess coffee’s impact across multiple domains of aging over three decades,” explains Dr Sara Mahdavi, BSc, HBSc, RD, MSc, PhD, a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University. “The findings suggest that caffeinated coffee, not tea or decaf, may uniquely support aging trajectories that preserve both mental and physical function.”

Scientists and academics are praising the extensive research for several reasons. 

“In addition to the large sample size and 30 years of follow-up, we assessed several different aspects of longevity and healthy aging as well as very comprehensive information on nutritional and lifestyle habits that were collected every four years after the initiation of the study,” explains Dr Mahdavi. 

This study defines healthy ageing as the ability to live to age 70 or beyond, being free from major chronic disease, exhibiting no cognitive impairment or memory-specific complaints, and still having good physical function and mental health.

According to the research, women who drank regular servings of caffeinated coffee throughout midlife most often exhibited the characteristics of healthy ageing. 

Following up on the health and well-being of the participants for 30 years, researchers concluded that by 2016, 3,706 women who consumed an average of 315 mg of caffeine per day throughout the ages of 45 to 60 were considered healthy agers. 

To put it into perspective, this amount of caffeine roughly equates to three small cups of coffee or one and a half large cups. 

According to the data, each extra cup of coffee per day throughout midlife was tied to a 2 per cent to 5 per cent higher chance of ageing better later in life.

Important factors to take into account

Of course, while the findings show a clear link between coffee consumption and healthy ageing, the resaerch does not ignore the possibility that many other factors likely played a role in how the women in the study aged, such as body weight[hysical activity, nutrition, alcohol and smoking use and their education level. 

Another study that Dr Mahdavi was involved in suggests genetic variation can play a role in how our bodies react to caffeine, with some people having a genetically predisposed low tolerance to the substance. 

It’s also iportant ot note that, while caffeine can improve alertness and support memory in individuals when consumed at recommended doses, excessive intake can cause a whole host of health issues, such as an increased heart rate, anxiety, insomnia and headaches. 

According to the study, the recommended moderate intake of caffeine is two to four 8-ounce cups per day. 

Is all caffeine good for ageing?

Interestingly, the ageing benefits associated with drinking coffee seem to be more linked to coffee itself, rather than all sources of caffeine. The same effects were not found to be evident in women who drank tea, nor in those who consumed decaffeinated coffee. 

Cola, a beverage high in caffeine, was linked to a significantly lower chance of healthy ageing, likely due to its high sugar content and (un)healthy dose of additives.

With that in mind, the study, while pointing to coffee as a beneficial source of caffeine for ageing, suggests being mindful of adding too much sugar, high-fat creamers or processed additives to your morning cup of Joe. 

“These results, while preliminary, suggest that small, consistent habits can shape long-term health,” says Dr Mahdavi. “Moderate coffee intake may offer some protective benefits when combined with other healthy behaviours such as regular exercise, a healthy diet and avoiding smoking.”