Latest news with #FangFangZhang
UPI
a day ago
- Health
- UPI
Coffee may help you live longer, but skip the extra sugar
Drinking at least one cup of caffeinated coffee per day was linked to a 16% lower risk of premature death from any cause, researchers found. Photo by Andrea Piacquadio/ Pexels June 18 (UPI) -- Drinking a cup or two of coffee every day may help you live longer -- but only if you skip the heavy cream and sugar, new research suggests. The research, published in The Journal of Nutrition, found that black coffee or coffee with just a little sugar and saturated fat was tied to a lower risk of premature death. But when people drank coffee with lots of sweeteners or cream, the health benefits disappeared. "Coffee is among the most-consumed beverages in the world, and with nearly half of American adults reporting drinking at least one cup per day, it's important for us to know what it might mean for health," senior author Fang Fang Zhang of Tufts University said in a news release. Researchers looked at data from more than 46,000 U.S. adults who took part in national health surveys between 1999 and 2018. They analyzed what kind of coffee people drank -- caffeinated or decaf -- and how much sugar and saturated fat they added. They compared that data to deaths from any cause, as well as heart disease and cancer. The results? Drinking at least one cup of caffeinated coffee per day was linked to a 16% lower risk of premature death from any cause. Drinking two to three cups a day was linked to a 17% lower risk. No clear association was found between coffee and cancer deaths. Researchers said people who drank black coffee or added coffee with low amounts of added sugar and saturated fat seemed to benefit the most. In the study, low sugar was defined as about one-half teaspoon per 8-ounce cup. Low fat, meanwhile, was defined as about 1 gram per cup - equal to 5 tablespoons of 2% milk or 1 tablespoon of light cream. "Few studies have examined how coffee additives could impact the link between coffee consumption and mortality risk, and our study is among the first to quantify how much sweetener and saturated fat are being added," added lead author Bingjie Zhou, a recent doctoral graduate at Tufts. The study was based on self-reported food data, which may not be fully accurate. It also found fewer people drank decaf, which may explain why no strong link was found between decaf coffee and early death. Still, the findings support the idea that coffee can be part of a healthy diet -- just be mindful of how much sugar and cream you add! More information Johns Hopkins Medicine has more on why coffee is good for you. Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
India.com
2 days ago
- Health
- India.com
Drink Black Coffee Daily? Science Says It May Help You Live Longer, But DONT Add This
If you're a fan of black coffee, here's some news that might make your next sip even more satisfying, your morning habit could actually help you live longer. According to a recent observational study published in The Journal of Nutrition, drinking black coffee in moderation is associated with a lower risk of death from all causes, especially heart-related issues. Coffee with a Catch: Not All Cups Are Created Equal Researchers at Tufts University found that the potential health benefits of coffee depend heavily on how it's prepared — particularly how much sugar and saturated fat is added. In short: plain black coffee? Good. Coffee loaded with sugar, cream, or flavored syrups? Not so much. The Sweet Truth: Less Sugar, More Life The study revealed that drinking 1–2 cups of caffeinated black coffee daily was linked to a 14% lower risk of death from any cause compared to those who didn't drink coffee at all. This benefit was strongest when the coffee was consumed with little to no sugar or saturated fat. Senior study author Dr Fang Fang Zhang emphasised that coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, and with nearly half of American adults drinking at least one cup per day, understanding its health effects is critical. According to Zhang, coffee contains powerful bioactive compounds, but those benefits can be reduced if the cup is filled with cream and sugar. While 2-3 cups of coffee a day were linked to a 17% reduced risk of death from any cause, the benefits plateaued after that. Drinking more than three cups didn't show additional advantages and even seemed to weaken the connection with reduced cardiovascular mortality. Coffee and Heart Health Interestingly, the most significant benefits of black coffee were seen in terms of cardiovascular health. Drinking black coffee regularly may help reduce the risk of dying from heart-related conditions, making it not just a wake-up ritual but potentially a heart-smart choice too. No Link to Cancer Mortality One surprising finding: there was no significant association between coffee consumption and a reduced risk of cancer-related deaths. This highlights that while coffee may support heart health and overall longevity, it isn't a magic shield against all diseases. What This Means for You If you're looking to make your morning cup healthier, consider these quick tips: 1. Stick to black or lightly sweetened coffee. 2. Avoid artificial creamers and sugar-loaded syrups. 3. Opt for plant-based milks if needed, with no added sugar. A moderate amount of black coffee (1–3 cups daily) could play a small but meaningful role in boosting your longevity, especially when enjoyed without sugar or heavy fats. So the next time you brew a plain cup of joe, remember: it's not just your morning pick-me-up, it might be your heart's best friend. (This article is meant for informational purposes only and must not be considered a substitute for advice provided by qualified medical professionals.)
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
One-two cups of black coffee daily could lower risk of death by 14%: Study
New Delhi: Drinking a cup or two of black coffee daily could lower risk of death by 14 per cent, but adding milk or sugar could diminish the benefits, according to a new study. The same link was not observed for coffee with high amounts of added sugar and saturated fat, researchers said. "The health benefits of coffee might be attributable to its bioactive compounds, but our results suggest that the addition of sugar and saturated fat may reduce the mortality benefits," Fang Fang Zhang, from Tufts University in the US, and senior author of the study published in The Journal of Nutrition, said. Data nine consecutive cycles of the US' National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2018, linked to national death data, was analysed. Responses of more than 46,000 adults aged 20 years and above who completed first-day 24-hour dietary questionnaires were looked at. Coffee consumption was categorised by type -- caffeinated or decaffeinated -- sugar, and saturated fat content, and outcomes of death studied included those from any cause, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. "Few studies have examined how coffee additives could impact the link between coffee consumption and mortality risk, and our study is among the first to quantify how much sweetener and saturated fat are being added," first author Bingjie Zhou, a PhD graduate from Tufts University, said. The authors wrote, "Consuming black coffee and coffee with low levels of added sugar and saturated fat was associated with a 14 per cent lower risk of all-cause mortality, compared with no coffee consumption." Consuming two to three cups a day could lower the risk of death due to any cause by 17 per cent, whereas taking more than three cups daily was not associated with additional reductions, the researchers said. Further, the link between coffee and a lower risk of death by cardiovascular disease weakened when more than three cups of coffee were taken a day, they added.>
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Scientists Reveal Healthiest Way of Drinking Coffee
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Good news for coffee purists—taking your joe black is associated with a reduced risk of death from all causes. This is the conclusion of a new study out of Tufts University, which found that this apparent benefit of coffee vanishes as cream, milk and sugar are added. "Coffee is among the most-consumed beverages in the world," said paper author and epidemiologist Fang Fang Zhang in a statement. "With nearly half of American adults reporting drinking at least one cup per day, it is important for us to know what it might mean for health." "The health benefits of coffee might be attributable to its bioactive compounds, but our results suggest that the addition of sugar and saturated fat may reduce the mortality benefits." Cups of coffee on a table. Cups of coffee on a table. Getty Images In their study, Zhang and colleagues analyzed health and diet data on a nationally-representative sample of 46,000 adults collected between 1999 and 2018. They linked this dataset to mortality data from the National Death Index to explore how different ways of taking one's coffee might affect one's risk of an early death. Specifically, the team categorized coffee consumption based on whether the drink was caffeinated or decaffeinated; taken with or without various forms of sugar; and whether it was drunk with or without milk, cream or half-and-half. The researchers also looked at how much sugar or saturated fats, respectively, were added to the subjects' coffee—with low added sugar (whether as granulated sugar, honey or syrup) and saturated fats being each classified as under 5 percent of the Daily Value. So, for example, this would be less than half a teaspoon of sugar and either give tablespoons of 2 percent milk or one tablespoon of either cream or half-and-half. The analyses indicated that consumption of at least one cup of caffeinated coffee per day was associated with a 16 percent lower risk of all-cause mortality—a figure that rose to 17 percent when 2–3 cups were consumed daily. Drinking more beyond this was not linked to further increases—in fact, drinking more than three cups a day appeared to weaken the benefit as concerned death from cardiovascular disease in particular. Moreover, the team found that the apparent health benefits of coffee were diminished when things were added to coffee. All-in-all, drinking black coffee and coffee with low levels of added sugar and saturated fat was associated with a 14 percent reduction in the risk of all-cause mortality, as compared to those people who didn't drink coffee. But that same link was not observed for coffee with high amounts of either added sugar or saturated fat. Paper author and nutrition epidemiologist Bingjie Zhou added: "Our results align with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which recommend limiting added sugar and saturated fat." Although the findings are likely to delight regular coffee drinkers, the study has some limitations—including how the data was based on people self-reporting how much coffee they drank, as well as how they took it. The team also noted that they did not find an association between the drinking of decaffeinated coffee and the risk of an early death—but cautioned that such might just be an artefact of how few of the subjects drank decaf. Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about coffee? Let us know via science@ Reference Zhou, B., Ruan, M., Pan, Y., Wang, L., & Zhang, F. F. (2025). Coffee Consumption and Mortality among United States Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study. The Journal of Nutrition.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
How many cups of coffee do you drink a day? Science says this exact amount could lower death risk by 14%
Having one or two cups of black coffee each day could reduce the risk of dying early by 14%, according to a new study quoted by PTI. But adding sugar or milk might reduce these health benefits, researchers have warned. The study, published in The Journal of Nutrition, was led by Fang Fang Zhang from Tufts University in the US. She explained, 'The health benefits of coffee might be due to its bioactive compounds, but our results suggest that adding sugar and saturated fat may take away these benefits.' What the study found The research team studied data from over 46,000 adults aged 20 and above. The data came from nine cycles of the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), collected between 1999 and 2018. This information was then linked to national death records. Participants reported what they ate and drank in a 24-hour period. Based on that, their coffee habits were studied, whether they drank it with or without caffeine, how much sugar and saturated fat they added, and how many cups they consumed. Black coffee vs coffee with sugar and fat Bingjie Zhou, first author of the study and a PhD graduate from Tufts, said, 'Few studies have looked at how coffee additives affect the link between coffee and mortality. Our study is one of the first to measure how much sugar and saturated fat people are adding.' Live Events The researchers found that people who drank black coffee or coffee with very little sugar and fat had a 14% lower risk of dying from any cause compared to those who didn't drink coffee at all. Having two to three cups of coffee a day was linked to a 17% lower risk of death. However, drinking more than three cups a day did not show extra benefits. In fact, the link between coffee and reduced death from heart disease became weaker beyond that point. Key takeaway While coffee may offer health benefits, the study suggests that these may only apply when it's drunk plain or with minimal additions. Too much sugar or fat could cancel out the good effects. Inputs from PTI
