Drinking Coffee Can Save You! Coffee Drinkers Found to Have Lower Death Risk

Coffee drinkers seem to benefit from the beverage as it cuts down on the risk of early death. This is true for either a cup of coffee with sugar or a cup that is just plain coffee, The Guardian reports.

Getting a cup of coffee may be a routine for some, with the frequency of consumption going unnoticed. However, a group of scientists has been paying close attention to global coffee consumption. According to their estimates, over 400 million cups of coffee are consumed every day in the United States, more than one cup for every person in the country.

The scientists pointed out that because not everyone drinks coffee every day, the statistics suggest that the average American coffee drinker consumes three cups per day.

The Effects of Coffee on Health

Coffee contains a stimulant that affects the central nervous system. Caffeine inhibits the action of adenosine on neuronal receptors and thus prevents drowsiness.

Caffeine, while it makes people feel more active and energized, is an addictive drug, and researchers have warned against overdoing it.

On the other hand, coffee consumption has been linked to positive outcomes such as slowing the progression of prostate cancer and providing antioxidants in warmer brews.

The researchers used the UK Biobank to learn more about the long-term effects of coffee consumption.

The UK Biobank

Over 500,000 people's lifestyle, genetic, and health data are collected in the UK Biobank, which was first released in 2006.

This data can easily be segmented based on the type of people being studied, such as those who drink coffee or don't, those who drink more than three cups of coffee per day, and so on.

A group of Chinese researchers accessed this database and chose a cohort of 171,000 people to study for seven years, during which time 3,177 people died.

The researchers found that people who drank unsweetened coffee had the lowest risk of death, while those who did not drink coffee had the highest risk. It was discovered that people who drank 2.5 to 4.5 cups of coffee per day had a 29% lower risk of death.

Even those who drank sugared coffee had a lower risk of dying than those who did not. Whether the participants drank instant, ground, or decaffeinated coffee, the results were similar.

According to the data, there was no clear correlation among people who used artificial sweeteners instead.

However, some researchers who were not involved in the study argue that such results should not be taken at face value.

These studies are observational, which does not imply that the results are conclusive. While coffee is addictive and may not be harmful in large doses, this does not mean that one can consume as many sweetened coffees as they want.

According to experts, the UK Biobank's data collection consisted of only asking participants once about their lifestyle choices and beverage preferences.

Experts added that coffee drinkers are typically more affluent and lead healthier lifestyles than those who do not.