Coffee is perhaps best known for its stimulating properties, which arise primarily from its caffeine content. However, coffee is also rich in other bioactive compounds, including polyphenols and alkaloids – many of which exert potent antioxidant, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective effects. Findings from a recent study suggest that coffee reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and promotes longevity.
The research involved nearly 450,000 adults (median age, 58 years) who were enrolled in the UK Biobank study. Participants provided information about their daily coffee consumption, including the types (instant, ground, or decaffeinated) and number of cups of coffee consumed, demographics, and overall health. Researchers categorized participants according to coffee intake and tracked them for about 12 years.
Approximately three-fourths of the participants consumed some coffee each day. Even after considering age, sex, ethnicity, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, smoking status, and tea and alcohol consumption, coffee drinkers were less likely to develop cardiovascular disease or arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) or die prematurely. Drinking 2 to 3 cups of coffee per day provided the greatest protection against premature death and cardiovascular disease; drinking 4 to 5 cups per day provided the greatest protection against arrhythmias.
These findings suggest that regular consumption of ground coffee reduces the risk of premature death, cardiovascular disease, and arrhythmias, potentially prolonging lifespan. Evidence from other studies suggests that filtered coffee is more protective than unfiltered coffee