Heard the News? Coffee May Be Good for You

You already know coffee is good—good tasting, good smelling, good for perking you up. But a new research study released to The American Society for Nutrition suggests that coffee could be linked to healthier aging, in addition to being pleasing to your senses. (A wish come true!) 

HOW THE STUDY WAS SET UP
Over 30 years, scientists tracked the diets of 47,000+ women. Every few years, the women answered in-depth questions about their dietary choices, including their coffee habits. The researchers took that data and analyzed it to see whether they arrived in advanced age free from major chronic diseases, in good physical and mental health, and with cognitive faculties intact. 

SO, WHAT DID THE STUDY FIND?
The researchers found that the odds of healthy aging were notably higher for women who were moderate-caffeine consumers during midlife. This applied to caffeine consumption mainly from coffee. It should be noted that while the study was lauded for its high-quality, it is also limited in that the findings are purely observational, meaning we can measure the cause and we can examine the effect—however the full-breadth of variables which may have also contributed to the results are not necessarily considered or known.

NOT ALL CAFFEINE IS CLEAN
It’s worth pointing out that caffeine in and of itself is not the sole factor responsible for this good news. For example, researchers noted that those who drank a lot of cola, another potential source of caffeine, had contributed to decreased odds of healthy aging. Additionally, those who consumed other low-caffeine options like tea or decaffeinated coffee did not see the same benefits as their regular coffee-drinking counterparts. 

WHAT’S THE KEY TAKEAWAY?
If you’re a daily coffee drinker (and you likely are, since you’re here—hi!), the study seems to suggest that it’s likely benefiting you. There’s more research to be done and more questions to be answered, but this new evidence has us buzzing … and brewing another cup.