A study from Annals of Internal Medicine tracking 129,000 people over two decades at the University of Madrid and the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) found that women drinking 4-5 cups of coffee a day were 26% less likely to die prematurely and specifically 34% less likely to die from heart disease. Men drinking five cups were 44% less likely to die of heart disease and 35% less from any cause. Another study from the National Cancer Institute of over 400,000 participants showed a 12% reduced mortality for men and 16% for women when drinking 4-5 cups of coffee a day.
Two other studies support the possibility of coffee combating cancers. Sweden’s Karolinska Institute found that women drinking five or more cups of coffee per day were at 57% less risk for ER-negative breast cancer when compared to those drinking less than a cup. The HSPH also found that men drinking 6 or more cups each day had almost a 20% reduction in prostate cancer.
Various studies have found beneficial effects of coffee in reducing the severity of Alzheimer’s disease, some cancers, depression, diabetes, gallstones, and kidney stones. A European study found those drinking four or more cups of coffee per day were 23-30% less likely to develop diabetes than those drinking less than a cup a day. It is theorized that the antioxidants in coffee may be responsible for counteracting cancers and anti-aging benefits. Another study found that the caffeine helps to improve short-term memory, reaction times, and other brain functions.
So, sit back and enjoy another cup of “joe” taking solace that you are doing something good for yourself.
Healthy living
