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Time of India
9 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Harvard‑backed study reveals each cup of coffee boosts healthy aging odds by 5%; How many cups should you have per day?
Coffee doesn't need any more good press than it already has. Thanks to its rich source of antioxidants and certain compounds like caffeine, coffee can be beneficial for health. Moderate consumption of coffee has often been linked to reduced risks of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, liver and endometrial cancers, Parkinson's disease, and depression. Moreover, coffee can also improve mood, enhance cognitive function, and boost physical performance. So, having your daily cuppa not only comes with great benefits, but also preps you for the hustle and bustle! But could your daily coffee habit be a secret to aging gracefully? Turns out, the answer is yes. A major new study, backed by Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health, suggests so, and it might have you brewing another cup. What does the study say? In a massive study of nearly 50,000 women over a time frame of 30 years, researchers found that drinking more coffee – to a point – during midlife was linked to less chronic disease, physical mobility issues and cognitive decline in later years. However, other caffeinated products, plus decaffeinated coffee, did not garner the same results. The aforementioned study tracked 47,513 women from the US Nurses' Health Study, beginning between 1984 and 1986, when participants were aged 45–60. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo This wasn't superficial: to qualify, participants had to live past 70 and remain free of 11 major chronic diseases (including heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes), while maintaining robust mental, cognitive, and physical health. Researchers followed them for over three decades, ending in 2016, and identified 3,706 women who met the criteria for "healthy aging." Coffee intake – both in type and quantity – was tracked through rigorous questionnaires. Researchers converted it into caffeine intake (measured per 80 mg unit, roughly the amount in a single espresso shot). On average, healthy agers consumed 315 mg of caffeine daily, the equivalent of three small cups of coffee. What are the findings? Dr Sara Mahdavi, from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, as reported by New Atlas, stated, 'Our study has several key strengths,' adding, 'In addition to the large sample size and 30 years of follow-up, we assessed several different aspects of longevity and healthy aging as well as very comprehensive information on nutritional and lifestyle habits that were collected every four years after the initiation of the study. ' What is the key takeaway? Each extra cup of brewed caffeinated coffee—up to about five cups a day—was linked with a 2% to 5% increased chance of healthy aging. Why does this matter? Over time, modest gains stack up. For someone drinking three cups daily, versus none, that's around a 15% to 25% increased likelihood of aging healthily – a substantial difference. As Dr Mahdavi stated, 'While past studies have linked coffee to individual health outcomes, our study is the first to assess coffee's impact across multiple domains of aging over three decades.' As per her, 'The findings suggest that caffeinated coffee – not tea or decaf – may uniquely support aging trajectories that preserve both mental and physical function.' More than caffeine: Coffee's unique blend What's fascinating is that this benefit wasn't observed with tea, decaf, soda, or other caffeine sources. In fact, cola intake was linked to 19% to 26% lower odds of healthy aging per daily glass. This suggests that coffee's bioactive compounds, like chlorogenic acids, polyphenols, and diterpenes, play a starring role, beyond caffeine itself. Harvard Health echoes this, noting that coffee's antioxidant components may improve insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation. According to Dr Madhavi, 'These results, while preliminary, suggest that small, consistent habits can shape long-term health.' The bitter/sweet spot: 2 to 4 cups a day As Dr Madhavi quoted, 'Moderate coffee intake may offer some protective benefits when combined with other healthy behaviors such as regular exercise, a healthy diet, and avoiding smoking. While this study adds to prior evidence suggesting coffee intake may be linked with healthy aging, the benefits from coffee are relatively modest compared to the impact of overall healthy lifestyle habits and warrant further investigation. ' What's the ideal number of cups, then? Most health benefits plateau after 3 to 4 cups daily. Even Harvard Health states moderate intake (2 to 4 cups) is beneficial for longevity and cardiovascular health. The Mayo Clinic recommends up to 400 mg/day – about four cups – as a safe limit. Moreover, drinking more than 5 cups daily has shown diminishing returns, and could bring downsides like anxiety, insomnia, digestive issues, or elevated cholesterol (especially from unfiltered brews). Besides, genetics also matters in this case, as individuals with slower caffeine metabolism may not experience the same benefits, and could be more sensitive to harm. Coffee drinkers undergo lower risks of death as compared to non-coffee drinkers: Study One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
The Independent
06-03-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Cutting this common ingredient from your diet could slash your risk of an early death
Switching from butter to plant-based oils like corn, rapeseed, or olive oil could significantly reduce the risk of premature death, a new study suggests. Researchers analysed data from more than 221,000 adults over several decades and found a link between butter consumption and increased mortality risk. During the 30- to 50-year follow-up period, 50,932 deaths occurred within the study group, including 12,241 from cancer and 11,240 from heart disease. After accounting for other influencing factors, individuals with the highest butter intake showed a 15 per cent greater risk of death from any cause compared to those with the lowest intake. Conversely, those with the highest intake of plant-based oils experienced a 16 per cent lower risk of death compared to those with the lowest intake. The study indicated that each 10g daily increase in plant-based oil consumption correlated with an 11 per cent reduced risk of cancer death and a 6 per cent reduced risk of heart disease death. Higher butter intake, however, was linked to a 12 per cent increased risk of cancer death. The researchers proposed that substituting just 10g of butter per day with the same amount of plant-based oils could lead to a 17 per cent reduction in overall mortality and cancer death. Writing in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, the authors concluded that 'higher intake of butter was associated with increased mortality, while higher plant-based oils intake was associated with lower mortality. 'Substituting butter with plant-based oils may confer substantial benefits for preventing premature deaths.' The data for the research was drawn from the US Nurses' Health Study, the Nurses' Health Study II and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. Researchers included those from Harvard Medical School in the United States. People's diets were assessed by food questionnaires every four years. Tom Sanders, professor emeritus of nutrition and dietetics at King's College London, said: 'This is an important study that shows that people who chose to eat butter don't live as long as those who choose to eat vegetable oils. 'Butter is high in saturated fat, contains some trans fatty acids but is very low in polyunsaturated fats. 'Whereas unhydrogenated soybean, canola and olive oils are low in saturated fatty acids but high in unsaturated fats. 'The take-home message is that it is healthier to choose unsaturated vegetable oils rather than butter. 'This is particularly relevant as there has been much negative publicity about vegetable oils on social media, which are based on unfounded claims of potential harmful effects, rather than deaths as described in the present study.'
The Independent
06-03-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Swapping butter for corn or olive oil ‘could slash risk of early death'
Swapping butter for corn, rapeseed or olive oil could slash the risk of an early death, new research suggests. Experts examined data for more than 221,000 adults, who were followed up for 30 to 50 years, and found butter actually seemed to drive up the risk of dying. Over time, some 50,932 deaths were documented among the group, with 12,241 due to cancer and 11,240 due to heart disease. After adjusting for other factors, people in the group who had the highest butter intake had a 15% higher risk of dying from any cause compared with those with the lowest intake. In contrast, the highest intake of plant-based oils such as corn, olive and rapeseed was associated with a 16% reduced risk of dying, compared with people with the lowest intake. The researchers suggested that every 10g per day increase in plant-based oil intake was associated with an 11% lower risk of cancer death and a 6% lower risk of heart disease death. Meanwhile, a higher intake of butter was associated with a 12% higher cancer death risk. Substituting 10g per day of butter with an equivalent amount of plant-based oils was associated with an estimated 17% reduction in death from any cause and a 17% reduction in cancer death. Writing in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, the authors concluded that 'higher intake of butter was associated with increased mortality, while higher plant-based oils intake was associated with lower mortality. 'Substituting butter with plant-based oils may confer substantial benefits for preventing premature deaths.' The data for the research was drawn from the US Nurses' Health Study, the Nurses' Health Study II and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. Researchers included those from Harvard Medical School in the US. People's diets were assessed by food questionnaires every four years. Tom Sanders, professor emeritus of nutrition and dietetics at King's College London, said: 'This is an important study that shows that people who chose to eat butter don't live as long as those who choose to eat vegetable oils. 'Butter is high in saturated fat, contains some trans fatty acids but is very low in polyunsaturated fats. 'Whereas unhydrogenated soybean, canola and olive oils are low in saturated fatty acids but high in unsaturated fats. 'The take-home message is that it is healthier to choose unsaturated vegetable oils rather than butter. 'This is particularly relevant as there has been much negative publicity about vegetable oils on social media, which are based on unfounded claims of potential harmful effects, rather than deaths as described in the present study.'
