Can’t go without caffeine for too long? Katha Nauriyal gives you another reason to keep sipping on your favourite cuppa joe
Amidst the criticism that coffee often gets from a section of health-conscious individuals, a surprising study by researchers from the U.S.A. has linked coffee to a lower risk of death. The study found that in many cases, coffee drinkers had a longer life span as compared with those who didn’t consume the drink. They also found that people who drank five cups of coffee every day had the lowest risk
of death.
How so?
“Coffee contains certain antioxidants that promote good health and reduce fatalities,” explains Dr. Behram Pardiwalla, consultant of Internal Medicine at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central. Coffee is packed with compounds such as phenolic acid and potassium, which together have an antioxidant effect. It also curbs your chances of suffering from chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes.
However…
The study doesn’t talk about whether coffee increases your life span or make you live longer. “One must remember that coffee also contains caffeine, which increases your heart rate,” Dr. Behram adds. So, while the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists deems it safe in moderation (even for pregnant women), drinking coffee excessively isn’t beneficial. A heavy consumption of caffeine can also increase your blood pressure levels and hamper insulin activity. Moreover, drinking too much coffee will keep you awake at night and disrupt your sleep patterns, which in turn will affect your overall health.