New research suggests that your daily cup of coffee might do more than just wake you up -- it could also extend your life.
A new review paper published in Ageing Research Reviews found that regular coffee consumption adds an average of 1.8 years of healthy living to a person's life – meaning not only do they live longer, but also healthier lives.
For the review, researchers from Portugal's University of Coimbra analyzed 85 studies from around the world that explored coffee's health impact. In addition to coffee's role in reducing the risk of some major chronic diseases, the team also explored existing research around coffee's role in biological mechanisms linked with the aging process. This included coffee's influence in mitigating cell mutations, which are a known trigger of aging, and strengthening regular cell function.
The review suggests that moderate coffee consumption is linked to a lower risk of death from various causes, including heart disease and stroke.
"Regular coffee consumption seems associated with a preservation of muscular, cardiovascular, mental and immune system functions and seems inversely associated with the incidence of the most frequent diseases affecting the elderly such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, stroke, some cancers, diabetes, dementia, major depression or frailty," the paper says.
So, how much coffee should you drink to reap these benefits?
The analysis suggests that two to three cups a day is the ideal amount of coffee for longevity. That aligns with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recommends that healthy adults consume no more than 400 milligrams of caffeine per day -- that's about two to three 12-fluid-ounce cups of coffee
Many traditional clinical recommendations for older people have advised decreasing or even avoiding coffee consumption altogether. This review suggests that these guidelines should be re-evaluated considering the existing compelling scientific evidence for coffee's role in healthy aging.
"Traditional clinical recommendations have at times overlooked coffee's role in healthy aging," lead author Rodrigo Cunha said in a statement. "Our review underlines the role regular, moderate coffee consumption can play in mediating against the biological mechanisms which naturally slow or fail as we get older – triggering a range of potential health issues and comorbidities."
Cunha said the evidence is clear: regular coffee consumption can potentially reduce some of the most chronic diseases facing society.
"We know that the world's population is aging faster than ever, which is why it's increasingly important to explore dietary interventions which may allow people to not only live longer but also healthier lives," he added.
Although coffee is most commonly associated with its caffeine content, it also includes a mixture of over 2,000 potentially bioactive compounds. While both caffeine and non-caffeine components of coffee can help extend healthy lifespan, researchers are still trying to unlock the exact role these components play.
"There is still room to understand more about exactly how these mechanisms work, as well as which individuals may be biologically pre-disposed to benefitting most from coffee's interactions with them," Cunha said.
Though there's plenty of room to learn more, researchers say the review paper underlines the important role that regular, moderate coffee consumption can play, as part of a healthy and balanced lifestyle.