There’s one unexpected benefit of glugging cups of coffee: it could help reduce your chance of an early death.
And drinking four cups a day is the ideal amount for the benefits to really kick in, according to a major study on 20,000 middle-aged men and women.
Researchers from Hospital de Navarra in Spain found that the people in their study who drank coffee regularly had mortality rates almost two thirds lower than those who didn’t.
Other than caffeine, coffee contains antioxidants which could be responsible for any health benefits.
The study tracked 19,986 people over an average period of 10 years. Around 1 in 60 participants died during the study, with those who drank coffee regularly having the lowest death rates.
The link between coffee consumption and decreased mortality rates was particularly pronounced among older people.
It adds to a variety of previous studies which have found potential benefits for drinking coffee like improving liver function, or boosting the immune system.
A US study found that three cups a day could significantly extend life. But the British Heart Foundation has warned against coffee drinkers “resting on their laurels”, adding: “The best way to minimize your risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death is to concentrate on an overall healthy lifestyle - eat a balanced diet, stay active and don’t smoke - rather than lining up the lattes.”
Source