Is one cup of coffee a day good for you? Yes, and 2-4 cups could be even better, scientist says.
The findings are significant because unlike other research, scientists considered a broad set of health factors, she said, defining healthy aging not 'on a single disease or mortality, but looking at aging across multiple dimensions of health.'
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Study data came from the long-running Nurses' Health Study, which examines epidemiological effects of nutrition, hormones, and environment on women participants,
The 47,000 women involved in the coffee study were below age 60 in 1986, when the research began, Mahdavi said. They were followed for 30 years, through 2016, so researchers could assess their long-term health, she said.
Scientists controlled for factors like diet, BMI, smoking, and other health behaviors, Mahdavi said.
Should I drink coffee? (Hint: It can be one of several healthy habits.)
The study, which was released as an abstract on Monday at an academic conference, shows moderate coffee consumption during middle age 'may be one small, supportive factor in long-term health and resilience,' Mahdavi said.
Other forms of caffeine were not found to have the same effect, she said, and women who drank cola were more likely to have worse aging outcomes.
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Scientists studying the women found a daily serving of cola was linked to a 20 to 26 percent lower odds of healthy aging, according to Mahdavi.
Because the study was so large and based on a long period of follow-up, it helps researchers understand how 'everyday habits' relate to overall health, she said.
Other daily habits, like eating a high-quality diet, staying active, and not smoking are 'far more important' than drinking coffee when it comes to aging well, Mahdavi said.
'For people who already enjoy and tolerate coffee, this study adds to the growing evidence that it can be part of a healthy lifestyle,' she said.
Claire Thornton can be reached at
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