There is a lot of stir lately surrounding a recently published Harvard study, which entailed a meta-analysis of three large studies on the long term implications of coffee consumption. Here is a brief report that gives us reason to celebrate our need for coffee:
It’s a happy day when we can report that something that tastes good is also good for you. It turns out that a hot cup of coffee is not only the best part of waking up, it may help you live longer.
Researchers from Harvard have confirmed that coffee is actually good for you. Drinkers of both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee see benefits including a lower rate of death from cardiovascular disease, neurologic diseases including Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes and mental health disorders.
The Harvard researchers gathered data from three large studies: the Nurses’ Health Study, which enrolled 75,000 women; the Nurses’ Health Study 2, which enrolled an additional 93,000 women; and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study of 40,000 men. The three ongoing studies have been run by the Harvard Department of Public Health since the early 1980s. These landmark studies have looked at a number of lifestyle variables and how they affect health. Coffee use was assessed using a food questionnaire every four years over 30 years.
In addition to reducing risk of death from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurologic diseases and psychiatric diseases, coffee consumption was also associated with lower overall cancer risk. The analysis used powerful analytical tools to eliminate the potential links to coffee such as smoking, obesity, physical activity, alcohol consumption as well as dietary factors.
The authors of the study conclude that “moderate coffee consumption can be incorporated into healthy dietary pattern.” The study was published in the journal Circulation on Nov. 16.
The mechanism by which coffee improves health is unknown but it is thought that bioactive compounds reduce inflammation and improve the effect of natural insulin.
The study confirms other recent research regarding coffee consumption and cardiovascular and neurologic health. Other studies published in the last five years take the benefits of coffee even further, suggesting that regular coffee drinkers have a lower risk of stroke and prostate cancer as well as liver cancer. Coffee may even reduce the risk of melanoma, Alzheimer’s disease, low back pain and male sexual dysfunction.
SRC: Read the entire article here: www.marinij.com/health/20151129/dr-bill-elliott-coffee-its-good-for-what-ails-you
SRC Photo: www.freestockphotos.biz/stockphoto/10641