By Karla Sullivan
In celebration of National Coffee Day, coffee drinkers may have a lower risk of certain health issues than those who do not drink coffee – includes caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee.
Neal Freedman, Ph.D., Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, NCI, and his colleagues examined the association between coffee drinking and risk of death in 400,000 U.S. men and women ages 50 to 71 who participated in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study. Information about coffee intake was collected once by questionnaire at study entry in 1995-1996. The participants were followed until the date they died or Dec. 31, 2008, whichever came first.
The researchers found that the association between coffee and reduction in risk of death increased with the amount of coffee consumed. Relative to men and women who did not drink coffee, those who consumed three or more cups of coffee per day had approximately a 10 percent lower risk of death. Coffee drinking was not associated with cancer mortality among women, but there was a slight and only marginally statistically significant association of heavier coffee intake with increased risk of cancer death among men.
“Researchers from the University of South Florida conducted a study in 2012 suggesting that older adults with mild memory impairment who drink moderate levels of coffee — about 3 cups a day — will not convert to Alzheimer’s disease — or at least will experience a substantial delay before converting to Alzheimer’s,” said study lead author Dr. Chuanhai Cao, a neuroscientist at the USF College of Pharmacy and the USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute.
According to Mayo Clinic, studies have shown that coffee may protect against Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes and liver disease including liver cancer. It has been known to improve cognitive function and decrease the risk of depression.
On the flip side, coffee can elevate cholesterol levels and affect blo0d pressure according to the Harvard School of Public Health. Though, some studies did not find coffee having potential health benefits, the good news is that studies have seemed to indicate that coffee drinking is not as unhealthy as suggested in earlier reports.
So if a coffee drinker, celebrate with your favorite brew today whether it be a mild mannered roast or dark Sumatra. For most coffee drinkers, one thing is for sure, each have their own unique roast profile.
Enjoy.
