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Coffee-lovers in Bahrain have received a welcome boost with the news that drinking three cups of their favourite brew a day could help them live longer.
In what has been called the clearest evidence yet of coffee’s so-called ‘elixir of life effect’, two major scientific studies have shown that coffee drinkers had a reduced risk of death.
Men who downed at least three cups of coffee a day were 18 per cent less likely to die than non-coffee drinkers and women drinking the same amount benefited less but saw an eight per cent drop in risk of death.
More than 680,000 people across the globe were studied by scientists in the two pieces of research. Irrespective of ethnicity, researchers found that people who drank two to three cups of coffee daily had an 18 per cent reduced risk of death.
But coffee guru, Chorok Cyrus Woo, director of crust & crema roaster, cafe and bakery, urges drinkers to keep it pure and simple to enjoy the beverage’s fullest benefits.
“People should be clear to understand that this so called ‘elixir effect’ means black coffee with no added condiments such as syrup, sugar, or even milk when taking calories into account.”
He added that quality counts and it’s better to invest in a cup of coffee made from specialty, organic or fair trade beans and not to be hoodwinked by clever marketing. Always check the labelled ingredients of some of the brands promoting instant coffee combination products which may not be as healthy as they first appear.
In the past the results linking coffee to life expectancy have varied, although many have extolled the health benefits of the coffee bean. Importantly, these latest results were similar across all of the 10 countries studied despite variable coffee drinking habits and customs.
Lead author Dr Veronica Setiawan, from the University of Southern California in the US, said: “We cannot say drinking coffee will prolong your life, but we see an association. If you like to drink coffee, drink up! If you’re not a coffee drinker, then you need to consider if you should start.
“Coffee contains a lot of antioxidants and phenolic compounds that play an important role in cancer prevention. Although this study does not show causation or point to what chemicals in coffee may have this ‘elixir effect’, it is clear that coffee can be incorporated into a healthy diet and lifestyle.”
The elixir of life, also known as elixir of immortality and sometimes equated with the philosopher’s stone, is a mythical potion that supposedly grants the drinker eternal youth. Alchemists in various ages and cultures have sought the means of formulating the elixir.
Earlier this year, GulfWeekly reported how researchers believed they may have hit on another reason why having a coffee or tea break is so good for us.
According to the results of a study published in Nature Medicine, caffeine, the ingredient that gives coffee, tea and some fizzy drinks a lift, blocks chemicals in our blood that promote inflammation. Inflamed blood vessels are more likely to become stiffer – a risk factor for heart disease.
Inflammation also plays a key role in many other diseases, the research study said. Tests found fewer of the chemicals linked to inflammation in those who had more caffeine in their bloodstream.
Further investigation revealed that they, as might be expected, drank more coffee than their peers.
