Research finds the elixir to a longer life could be coffee
Research from Melbourne cardiologists has found multiple cups of coffee a day is not only good for you, it may be the key to a longer life.
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Drinking two or three cups of coffee a day is not just good for you, it may even be the elixir to a longer life.
An analysis of more than 382,000 people by Melbourne cardiologists has found significantly lower risks of heart disease and early death among those with a daily coffee habit.
Results of the studies are so strong that researchers from Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital and Baker Heart Institute recommended to an international gathering of cardiologists overnight that daily cups of coffee should form part of a healthy diet.
After analysing the daily habits of hundreds of thousands of UK coffee drinkers and abstainers over more than a decade, as well as all of their health outcomes, senior author Professor Peter Kistler said the benefits of a cuppa were apparent “across the board”.
“We found that in nearly 400,000 people, regular coffee drinkers have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, coronary disease, heart failure, survival is improved and the stroke risk is reduced,” Prof Kistler said.
“The sweet spot seems to be around two to three cups of coffee per day, so the message is that people shouldn’t feel discouraged in their coffee habits, but rather consider it part of a healthy diet.
“It is pretty much across the board, so there’s no real reason for people to be concerned by enjoying two to three cups of coffee per day - though the cut-off would probably be around six.”
In the first of a series of studies presented to the American College of Cardiology’s 71st Annual Scientific Session, the Melbourne team examined data from 382,535 individuals who did not have heart disease when they were first recorded in the massive UK BioBank records.
After splitting them up based on the number of coffees they drinks each day - from 0 to six or more cups - the researchers found having two to three cups a day was associated a 10-15 per cent lower risk of developing coronary heart disease, heart failure, a heart rhythm problem, or dying for any reason over the following decade.
Overall, the Alfred and Baker scientists found a “U-shaped” relationship between the number of coffees a person drank and their health, with outcomes deteriorating the more or less a person drank than the optimum two or three cups
Another study of 34,279 individuals with known cardiovascular issues found they could also gain protection from downing multiple coffees a day.
For those who suffering arrhythmia, drinking one cup of coffee a day was associated a 20 per cent lower chance of death non-coffee drinkers.
About 80 per cent of doctors advise patients experiencing heart issue to cease drinking coffee, though Prof Kistler said the scientific evidence “flies in the face” of that advice.
But while the benefits on heart health were clear at a population level, Prof Kistler said individuals shouldn’t increase their coffee intake if it makes them feel anxious or uncomfortable.
A third study examining the preferred brew found there was a lower risk of arrhythmias, artery blockages, stroke or heart failure regardless of whether a person drank ground or instant coffee - however decaf only protected against some ailments.
As well as caffeine, Prof Kistler said coffee beans contain more than 100 biologically active compounds that can reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, improve insulin sensitivity, boost metabolism, inhibit the gut’s absorption of fat and block receptors known to be involved with abnormal heart rhythms.
“Doctors are often worried that people who’ve got weak heart are more vulnerable to rhythm problems,” he said.
“Coffee increases the heart rate a little bit, but it actually doesn’t cause true arhythmias.”
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