The coffee is the second most popular beverage in the world, after water, with an estimated consumption of over 2.25 billion cups daily globally. Whether upon waking up, or after a good meal, it’s a ritual that is sometimes very difficult to do without. And if Portuguese scientists are to be believed, coffee could be responsible for the increase in life expectancybut on condition that you do not overuse it. Find out how many cups you need to drink every day to live two years longer.
Science looks at the benefits of coffee
Researchers from the University of Coimbra, Portugal, conducted an in-depth study on the benefits of coffee consumption by analyzing and comparing the results of 85 scientific studies. In particular, they examined the correlation between coffee consumption and the mortality rateas well as its impact on other health factors.
“Traditional clinical recommendations have sometimes neglected the role of coffee In healthy aging. Our study highlights the role that regular, moderate coffee consumption can play in combating the biological mechanisms that naturally slow down or fail as we age, triggering a range of potential health problems and comorbidities.”explain the authors of the study.
How many coffees per day to live longer?
If coffee seems to have a positive effect on life expectancy, as with everything, moderation is essential. Indeed, researchers estimate that daily consumption of three cups of coffee could be associated with a increase in average life expectancy of 1.84 years. However, the analysis of these data suggests that other factors, such as the type of coffee consumed or the sociodemographic characteristics of the individuals studied, could influence the results and require further consideration.
In the magazine Ageing Research Reviewsthe authors of the study explain that “regular coffee consumption appears to be associated with preservation of muscle functionscardiovascular, mental and the immune systemand seems inversely associated with the incidence of the most common diseases affecting older people such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, strokes, certain cancers, diabetes, depression or physical frailty..
No more than three cups per day
Although researchers have noted health benefits when consuming three cups a day, we should not go beyond that. Research carried out by Gareth Richards et Andrew Smith in 2019 demonstrated that people who ingest more than 1000 mg per week (which is equivalent to about 25 cups of coffee), may be more vulnerable to anxiety and stress disorderswhile more moderate consumers, who ingest only 250 mg per week, may benefit from a reduction in these symptoms and an improvement in their mental well-being.
Another study, dating from 2022, carried out among 19,000 people, showed that consume more than two cups of coffee per day could increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in individuals already suffering from high blood pressure. Harmful effects for health and therefore for life expectancy which should not call into question the benefits of coffee, but rather encourage moderation.
