Scientists Say Coffee Can Do A Lot More Than Deliver A Jolt Of Energy

For many people, a few cups of coffee is just par for the course. But while busy folks might rely on that caffeine for a short-term boost, experts say there are also some long-term benefits.

Analyzing the evidence

Researchers followed hundreds of thousands of caffeinated coffee or tea drinkers over the course of a dozen years. None of the participants had been diagnosed with cardiometabolic disease when the study began.

According to the data collected, drinking a few cups of coffee or tea every day is associated with a reduction in three serious conditions:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Coronary heart disease
• Stroke

Soochow University associate epidemiology professor Chaofu Ke, who was a co-lead author of the new report, explained: “Caffeine intake at different doses could have different health effects.”

Too much of a good thing

There seems to be a Goldilocks zone — between 2 and 3 cups a day — where the majority of these positive health correlations are found. Drinking much more than that, scientists warn, could have negative consequences.

Moderate coffee drinkers seemed to benefit the most, registering a cardiometabolic disease risk roughly 50% lower than those who consumed only a small amount of caffeine.

Another upside, Ke explained, is that drinking 2 to 3 cups of coffee per day seems to facilitate digestion via specific metabolites in the body.

“Moderate caffeine intake may regulate levels of these metabolites,” the professor said.

Dr. Luke Laffin of the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Blood Pressure Disorders, on the other hand, warned that we shouldn’t “draw any conclusions” about the headlines surrounding this study, adding: “Too many cups of coffee can raise blood pressure in someone who already has hypertension.”

He also advised against “ordering a coffee with whipped cream and sugary syrup … which can contribute to cardiometabolic disease.”

Chris Agee September 18th, 2024

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