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Table of Contents
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Table of Contents
Contents
By
Ru Chen
Key Takeaways
As the most popular beverage worldwide, coffee is considered a cultural tradition, a workplace miracle, and everything in between. It can even be consumed for its potential health benefits, including anti-aging properties.
Recent research has shown that coffee consumption can influence brain function, memory, and overall well-being. Coffee contains plenty of bioactive compounds, such as caffeine and antioxidants. Drinking coffee can even support a healthier aging process. Let’s go over the role of coffee in healthy cognitive function and aging.
A recent study showed that coffee can help with healthy aging, especially when it comes to cardiovascular diseases and mild cognitive impairments. Here are the main potential benefits of coffee intake:
Caffeine also has plenty of bioactive compounds that can be beneficial, such as chlorogenic acids (CGAs), diterpenes, trigonelline, tryptophan alkaloids, and melanoidins. These have anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and other health effects.
Antioxidants can prevent cell damage. To better understand this, let’s first go over how food affects aging.
Cognitive function often decline with age. Memory loss, slower thinking, impaired ability to multitask, worsened attention – these are all common signs of cognitive decline. Ultra-processed foods can accelerate aging, which is one reason why dieticians tell people to avoid them. People who consume AGEs have an increased risk of and other age-related illnesses.
In today’s day and age, it can be difficult to avoid ‘unhealthy food’, whether due to convenience, accessibility, dietary preferences, or cost. Still, it’s a good idea to keep to foods that we know can support healthy aging. Antioxidant-rich foods are one such option.
Antioxidants are compounds that inhibit oxidation and reduce free radicals. Free radicals are waste substances that lead to oxidative stress, which is linked to heart disease, stroke, arthritis, cancer, immune deficiency, and other health issues. By adding antioxidants to your diet, you can reduce your overall risk of health problems.
Common effects of caffeine include:
Caffeine can also improve productivity and creativity, which some also consider to be a health benefit.
Meanwhile, caffeine can also have negative effects, especially if consumed excessively. Here are some potential side effects of caffeine:
If you have stomach, heart, a desire to become pregnant, or other health concerns, consult with your physician to see how much caffeine consumption is right for you. Coffee alternatives exist, from decaf coffee all the way to mushroom coffee.
Consuming coffee can’t reverse the effects of aging, but it may be able to slow down its effects. Here are some of the potential benefits and side effects associated with consuming coffee, particularly for older adults.
Cardiovascular disease: Research has shown that moderate coffee consumption can lead to overall better cardiovascular health.
Diabetes: Caffeine can affect blood sugar in either direction by changing how the body uses insulin. Usually, this means consuming at least 200 mg of caffeine in one go. However, caffeine could also have no noticeable effect on your blood sugar at all. Consult with a member of your healthcare team to be sure whether you should drink caffeine if you have diabetes.
Inflammation: Caffeine intake has been shown to prevent inflammation, particularly in the colon. Like other organs, the colon is more susceptible to disease as we age. Malnutrition, chronic constipation, and colorectal cancer become more likely. Anti-inflammatory support can be useful for those experiencing intestinal problems.
Wrinkles: The polyphenols within caffeine can have ameliorative effects on skin aging, such as contributing to fewer wrinkles.
With everything potentially playing a role in an individual’s longevity, it’s impossible to guarantee that drinking coffee makes one live longer. However, research shows that people who drink multiple cups of coffee per day may lower the risk of early death.
The average life expectancy for someone living in the United States is around 75 years. People who drink coffee may be able to lower the chances of premature death. However, it is important to note that some studies have shown the opposite: coffee may have no effect on survival to age 90 among older women.
Future research is needed to solidify any correlation between coffee and longevity. However, we do know that eating better can help you live longer, so paying attention to your diet is a good idea.
Yes. Some individuals react poorly to caffeine in their system. If you have any special medical conditions or medications, it is important to consult your doctor before drinking coffee or other caffeinated beverages, such as energy drinks and tea.
On the other hand, if you drink coffee in moderation, caffeine can offer numerous health and mental benefits. So how much is a moderation of coffee? In general, 4 or fewer cups of coffee (<400mg caffeine) a day is fine. However, many people feel jittery or headachey after 2 cups, which you may want to avoid.
If you have high blood pressure (hypertension), you may want to avoid coffee. Research has shown conflicting results for whether caffeine raises your blood pressure. The Journal of American Health Association showed that heavy coffee consumption increases health risks for people with severe hypertension (but not for those without hypertension).
As we age, we often become more forgetful. Forgetfulness is a common age-related issue, and some people may go through dementia and Alzheimer’s. Talking with a doctor is crucial in helping better manage these risks and symptoms.
Caffeine can help promote better memory performance since it raises alertness and focus. In fact, a study has shown that caffeine is relevant to better cognitive function for elderly adults.
Caffeine has neuroprotective properties, which means that it can reduce one’s risk of developing neurodegenerative disease, such as:
It can be challenging to incorporate coffee into an aging lifestyle, especially if you have any pre-existing medical conditions or risks. You don’t want caffeine to cause bleeding or reduce the effects of life-saving medications. Here are some key risks and guidelines to keep in mind.
Caffeine is classified as a stimulant drug. It has common interactions with medications, which may be dangerous or uncomfortable. You should probably avoid drinking caffeine if you take any:
The list doesn’t end there – if there are any medications you take, be sure to confirm whether they can be safely consumed with coffee.
Many adults are sensitive to caffeine, experiencing greater jitters and negative effects after consuming coffee.
Note: caffeine is a stimulant that has a diuretic effect. This means that it increases urine production, which may be an issue for those with bladder concerns. Be mindful of caffeine consumption.
In general, optimizing coffee consumption means knowing how you personally react to caffeine. Those with health conditions, pregnant women, and those trying to become pregnant should limit caffeine intake. Mixing caffeine with alcohol or other drugs can also be dangerous. Be sure to ask your doctor if caffeine is right for you.
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Water is essential to life, providing:
While coffee has around 98% water content and can have similar hydrating qualities as water, it shouldn’t replace water. Make sure to drink enough water every day. The common idea you should chug 8 cups each day – this is a myth. ‘92-124 ounces of water daily’ is the general recommendation for those living in temperate climates, and many factors influence your optimal intake (e.g. workouts, diet, and weather). When you’re well hydrated, you can become less susceptible to negative effects of caffeine such as jitters and headaches.
Insomnia and other sleep disorders can be exacerbated by caffeine. Caffeine can give a large energy boost – wondrous for productivity, but not great for those who want to sleep.
Anxiety and panic disorders can also interact poorly with caffeine. Many of the physical symptoms that can occur due to caffeine consumption are similar to anxiety symptoms.
Teas naturally have less caffeine than coffee. This can be beneficial for those who wish to consume caffeine at lower dosages to reduce sleep disturbances or anxiety jitters. One serving of tea only has 35 to 50 mg of caffeine.
Note that herbal infusions typically have 0 mg caffeine! So if you want a completely caffeine-free beverage, herbal infusions could be a viable option.
Cacao contains theobromine, which can give an energy boost that is similar to coffee, except without coffee jitters or crashes. Brewed cacao tends to taste more chocolatey and rich than brewed coffee, which has a heavier bitterness.
Mushroom coffee, while a seemingly exotic choice, can be good for those who suffer from intestinal issues. Many people experience stomach upset as they age, so mushroom coffee could be a lower-caffeine alternative.
Specialty coffee from coffee clubs can also help you find the type of roast that suits your dietary preferences and needs. Whether you want high quality, single-origin roast or low-acidity brews, coffee clubs open the door to any type of coffee beans you may want for healthier aging.
As the most popular beverage, coffee is constantly being studied. More research will elucidate the relationship between coffee, aging, and cognitive function.
Personalized coffee consumption is an exciting direction the industry is taking. Researchers are currently exploring how genetic variations in caffeine metabolism may affect coffee consumption recommendations.
Health devices and apps are also advancing in accuracy, allowing us to monitor heart rate and sleep quality. This provides real-time feedback on the effects of coffee, which is crucial if you have any special reactions to caffeine, such as insomnia or anxiety. This can help you essentially fine tune your caffeine intake levels.
Coffee has plenty of potential healthy aging benefits, such as:
These are thanks to the caffeine, polyphenols, and bioactive compounds within coffee. Coffee’s ability to reduce our body’s waste substances can improve overall health as we age. Still, moderate and individualized consumption is crucial. For a healthy aging strategy, avoid drinking over 400mg of coffee in a day since it can cause serious health concerns, as can anything when consumed excessively.
Eat better, drink better, age better. Healthy aging involves solidifying good habits and avoiding frequent exposure to harmful products. Scientists and coffee experts are constantly uncovering more about coffee and its relationship with health, so stay informed by keeping up with the latest coffee news.
Ru Chen
Content Writer
Ru Chen is a content writer with several years of experience in creating engaging and well-researched articles. She mostly writes about coffee, business, digital marketing, and law. In her free time, she can be found watching horror movies and playing board games with her partner in Brooklyn.
Ru Chen is a content writer with several years of experience in creating engaging and well-researched articles. She mostly writes about coffee, business, digital marketing, and law. In her free time, she can be found watching horror movies and playing board games with her partner in Brooklyn.
