It is well known now that coffee brings certain health benefits. It has long been associated with improving energy levels, lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes, protecting the liver and fighting depression. But scientists now suggest that it also helps to mitigate issues associated with aging.
A report published in January 16th 2017 in the journal Nature Medicine from Stanford University, suggests that there is a correlation between drinking coffee, advancing age, inflammation and cardiovascular disease.
The Study
The study suggests that inflammation is a driver of cardiovascular disease and other diseases more common in old age. Metabolites (breakdown products) circulating in the blood can trigger this inflammation process. It seems from the study that caffeine and its own metabolites, may counter the actions of the inflammation causing metabolites, possibly explaining why people who drink coffee live longer.
The researchers at Stamford were aware that more than 1,000 papers have provided evidence that chronic inflammation contributes to many cancers, Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis and even depression. But the researchers at Stamford were then able to show that these inflammations that occur in old age could be targeted and combated against by drinking caffeine.
The researchers made the discovery using data gathered from a long term programme started 10 years ago. In this programme healthy participants aged 20-30 and another older group of participants, aged 60 and older, were monitored annually. What the scientists learned was that there was a correlation between drinking coffee and inflammation and associated disease. Those people who had little inflammation tended to drink more caffeinated drinks.
So there you have it. Drinking coffee could make you live longer and protect you against diseases more common in old age.