So what’s a coffee drinker to do? Maybe, tip that cup. According to a National Cancer Institute study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, when men drank 2 to 3 cups a day, they had a 10 percent chance of living longer than those who drank none—for women, the number was 13 percent. Because this was an observational study, experts agreed that in the end, results were actually “unclear.” Others might call it more positive ammunition to keep drinking your java.
Study limitations included that fact that 400,000+ participants reported their own coffee consumption and didn’t report the type of coffee—only whether it contained caffeine or not.
To drink or not?
Previously-reported Mayo Clinic data have said coffee could cause headaches, upset stomach, racing heartbeat and restlessness due to its caffeine component. If you have hypertension, don’t forget that caffeine raises blood pressure.
Coffee has been previously lauded for its antioxidants—good for health in general—and for its ability to lower the risk of brain disorders in aging adults. Coffee drinkers may also have less incidence of Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes, and both liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.
The fine grind
Further NEJM study details reveal that, compared to coffee abstainers, men drinking 2 to 3 cups a day had…
- 14 percent less risk of death from heart disease
- 17 percent less risk of death from respiratory disease
- 16 percent less risk of dying from stroke
- 25 percent less risk of dying from diabetes
Among women drinking the same amount…
- 15 percent less risk of death from heart disease
- 21 percent less risk of death from respiratory disease
- 7 percent less risk of death from stroke
- 23 percent lower risk of death from diabetes
And about cancer: No association was proven in women between coffee and lowered risk of cancer death. In men, the risk of dying was actually a bit higher.
Drink six or more cups daily? Your risk goes even lower, but your nerves may go haywire, ‘cause that’s a lotta’ coffee. Now where’s that Caramel Mocha Frappuccino when you really need it?
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