Latest news with #NUTRITION2025
Newsweek
17 hours ago
- Health
- Newsweek
30-Year Study Reveals Coffee's Surprising Effect on Women Over 70
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Women who consume caffeinated coffee in midlife may boost their odds of aging well, according to a 30-year study. The findings suggest that a daily cup of coffee may do more than energize—it might support physical and mental health into an aging adult's golden years. The research, which was presented at the NUTRITION 2025 conference by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health fellow Dr. Sara Mahdavi, analyzed data from the Nurses' Health Study, which began in 1984 and focused on nearly 50,000 women aged 45-60. Stock image: Two cups of coffee. Stock image: Two cups of coffee. Photo by Farknot_Architect / Getty Images "Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages globally and its relationship with long-term health has generated both scientific curiosity and public debate," Mahdavi told Newsweek in an email. "Given its rich mix of bioactives, we wanted to examine how midlife intake may relate to healthy aging outcomes decades later—especially in a well-characterized cohort with repeated dietary measures." Researchers found that women who drank regular, caffeinated coffee—not tea or decaf—had a modest, but measurable increase in the likelihood of meeting criteria for "healthy aging" by age 70. These criteria included being free from 11 major chronic diseases, having intact physical function and mental health, and reporting no memory complaints. "Caffeine likely plays a role, but it's not the only factor," Mahdavi said. "Caffeinated coffee contains a broader range of bioactive compound—including certain polyphenols and diterpenes—that may be altered or diminished during decaffeination. "It's also possible that individuals who drink decaf differ systematically in health or behavior, though we adjusted for many of those variables." What To Know On average, women in the study who aged in a healthy way consumed around 315 mg of caffeine daily—roughly equivalent to three small cups of coffee. Each additional cup was tied to a 2-to-5% increase in the odds of healthy aging, up to a threshold of five small cups per day. The researchers noted that, for most people, two cups of coffee per day are generally safe and potentially beneficial. By contrast, soda consumption was associated with a 20-to-26% reduction in the likelihood of healthy aging, which suggests not all caffeine sources offer similar benefits. "The clearest takeaway was how consistent the findings were," Mahdavi told Newsweek. "Even after accounting for factors like smoking, [body mass index] and overall diet quality, moderate caffeinated coffee intake in midlife remained positively associated with healthy aging. "By contrast, cola consumption was associated with a substantially lower likelihood of aging well—nearly four times the magnitude, in the opposite direction." Health Benefits of Coffee Previous research has linked coffee consumption to a range of health benefits, including a reduced risk of several chronic conditions. Studies published in journals such as The New England Journal of Medicine and Circulation (NEJM) have found associations between regular coffee consumption and lower rates of Type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, stroke and cardiovascular disease. A 2012 study in NEJM involving more than 400,000 participants found that people who drank coffee had a lower risk of death over the study period, whether it was caffeinated or decaf. A 2017 umbrella review in The BMJ found that coffee consumption was, "more often associated with benefit than harm," for a range of health outcomes. However, researchers have also cautioned that drinking too much coffee may pose risks for people with certain conditions, or low caffeine tolerance. "Not all beverages are equal when it comes to long-term health," Mahdavi said. "Moderate caffeinated coffee—1-to-3 cups per day—may support healthy aging, but more importantly, it can be part of a broader lifestyle that includes nutrient-rich foods, regular physical activity and avoiding harmful exposures. "The study adds to the growing body of evidence that everyday dietary choices, even in midlife, matter for how we age."
New York Post
18 hours ago
- Health
- New York Post
People who eat certain type of diet are at low risk for dementia, research shows
Certain foods may feed the brain better than others. New research presented this week at NUTRITION 2025, the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition in Orlando, Florida, found that the MIND diet is particularly beneficial for cognitive health. Advertisement People who followed the MIND eating plan — which stands for Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay — were 'significantly less likely' to develop Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia, according to a press release from the American Society for Nutrition. What is the MIND diet? MIND is a hybrid of the Mediterranean diet and the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), the latter of which is designed to reduce blood pressure. The diet focuses on 'brain-healthy foods' like leafy green vegetables, berries, nuts, and olive oil. 'The MIND diet is unique as the first eating plan focused on foods to specifically improve and support cognitive health,' Lauren Harris-Pincus, registered dietitian nutritionist and founder of and author of 'The Everything Easy Pre-Diabetes Cookbook,' told Fox News Digital. Advertisement 5 New research presented this week at NUTRITION 2025 found that the MIND diet is particularly beneficial for cognitive health. bit24 – 5 Those who followed the diet were shown to have an overall 9% reduced risk of dementia. LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS – The plant-focused MIND diet highlights 10 types of food, including berries, leafy greens, veggies, whole grains, nuts and seeds, beans, legumes, seafood, poultry, and olive oil, according to Harris-Pincus, who was not involved in the research. 'These focus foods contain nutrients that play a critical role in supporting brain health, including flavonoids, carotenoids, B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids (especially DHA), choline, and minerals like magnesium, potassium, and calcium,' she said. Advertisement 'The diet also suggests limiting foods such as pastries, refined sugar, red meat, cheese, fried foods, fast food, and butter or margarine.' 5 The plant-focused MIND diet highlights 10 types of food, including berries, leafy greens, veggies, and whole grains. monticellllo – MIND's impact on brain health Researchers from the University of Hawaii analyzed data from nearly 93,000 U.S. adults who reported their dietary habits during the 1990s as part of the Multiethnic Cohort Study. At the start of the study, participants ranged in age from 45 to 75. Advertisement 5 People who followed the MIND eating plan were 'significantly less likely' to develop Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia, according to a press release from the American Society for Nutrition. Jacob Lund – In analyzing which participants developed Alzheimer's or other dementias in later years, the MIND eating plan performed better than other healthy diets in terms of reducing dementia risk, with benefits seen among both younger and older groups. Those who followed the diet were shown to have an overall 9% reduced risk of dementia, and some groups — African American, Latino, and White participants — showed a 13% lower risk. Asian-Americans and native Hawaiians did not show as pronounced a risk reduction. 5 'Our study findings confirm that healthy dietary patterns in mid to late life and their improvement over time may prevent Alzheimer's and related dementias,' said Song-Yi Park (not pictured), PhD, associate professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS – The longer people adhered to the diet, the greater the reduction of risk. Those who followed the plan over a 10-year period had a 25% lower risk compared to those who didn't stick with it. 'Our study findings confirm that healthy dietary patterns in mid to late life and their improvement over time may prevent Alzheimer's and related dementias,' said Song-Yi Park, PhD, associate professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, in the release. 'This suggests that it is never too late to adopt a healthy diet to prevent dementia.'
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Coffee Could Be The Secret to Healthy Aging For Women, Scientists Discover
The daily ritual of imbibing a hot cup of freshly brewed and fragrant coffee isn't just good for the soul – it may be one of the ways to smooth the road to healthy aging for women. In a study of 47,513 women in the US with data spanning 30 years, scientists have found that long-term moderate coffee consumption in mid-life is positively correlated with the markers of healthy aging. "While past studies have linked coffee to individual health outcomes, our study is the first to assess coffee's impact across multiple domains of aging over three decades," says Sara Mahdavi, nutrition scientist at Harvard University and the University of Toronto. "The findings suggest that caffeinated coffee – not tea or decaf – may uniquely support aging trajectories that preserve both mental and physical function." To assess the long-term impact of a daily cuppa (or two) on aging, Mahdavi and her colleagues made a careful study of data collected as part of the Nurses' Health Study, a series of epidemiological studies that examine the long-term impacts of various factors on the health of nurses in the US. They examined health and dietary intake data collected since 1984, all the way up to 2016. Healthy aging was defined as living to 70 years or older, maintaining good physical function, staying free from 11 major chronic diseases, and with no cognitive, mental health, or memory impairment. The researchers also adjusted for other factors that might influence health, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, level of physical activity, and body-mass index. By 2016, the researchers identified 3,706 women who qualified as healthy agers. For this group, around 80 percent of their average daily caffeine intake came in the form of three small cups' worth of coffee. By contrast, tea and decaffeinated coffee were not associated with any of the markers of healthy aging; and cola intake was associated with a negative impact for the markers of healthy aging. In other words, coffee had a positive effect; tea and decaf were neutral; and cola had a negative effect. For the healthy agers, each additional cup of coffee, up to five small cups a day, boosted the odds of healthy aging by between 2 and 5 percent. For the cola drinkers, each cup per day reduced the odds of healthy aging by 20 to 26 percent. Of course, coffee isn't a magic bullet for your health; you should still look after yourself in other ways, Mahdavi says. "These results, while preliminary, suggest that small, consistent habits can shape long-term health. Moderate coffee intake may offer some protective benefits when combined with other healthy behaviors such as regular exercise, a healthy diet, and avoiding smoking," she explains. "While this study adds to prior evidence suggesting coffee intake may be linked with healthy aging, the benefits from coffee are relatively modest compared to the impact of overall healthy lifestyle habits and warrant further investigation." The research has been presented at the NUTRITION 2025 conference in Orlando, Florida. Texas Woman Dies From Brain-Eating Amoeba After Flushing Sinuses Menopause Drug Reduces Breast Cancer Growth In Clinical Trial Bowel Cancer in Young People Is Rising – Here's How to Reduce Your Risk
Medscape
2 days ago
- Health
- Medscape
Adapting Diet to Chronotype Boosts Weight Loss, Gut Health
Among patients with overweight/obesity, a diet adapted to an individual's chronotype was more effective in promoting weight loss and improving cardiometabolic health and gut microbiota (GM) than a conventional low-calorie diet. 'Emerging evidence suggests that aligning dietary patterns with an individual's circadian rhythm, or chronotype, may optimize metabolic processes and gut microbiota (GM) composition and function,' the study authors wrote. 'Given the burden of obesity, a chronotype-adapted diet — aligning meal timing with biological rhythms — could be an innovative approach to weight management.' The study, presented at NUTRITION 2025 in Orlando, Florida, showed that, overall, fat percentages decreased significantly in the intervention group, while the control group showed no significant change. In addition, a GM analysis revealed greater production of anti-inflammatory short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the intervention group than in the control group. For clinicians, considering a patient's chronotype during dietary counseling would be 'a practical and feasible starting point,' principal author Monica Dinu, PhD, assistant professor at the University of Florence, Florence, Italy, told Medscape Medical News . 'This can be done easily with a simple [tool] like the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ).' Aligning Meals With Chronotype Researchers conducted a 4-month, open-label, randomized controlled trial. A total of 140 adults with overweight/obesity were assigned to either a chronotype-adapted, low-calorie diet with meal timing tailored to their metabolic peaks (morning vs evening chronotype) or a standardized low-calorie eating plan. Chronotype was determined using the MEQ, which offers 'a practical, noninvasive method that can be easily applied in both research and ambulatory settings,' Dinu noted. The team did not impose strict time windows for meals, she said. 'Rather, the intervention was based on the distribution of energy intake throughout the day. Morning chronotypes consumed approximately 80% of their daily energy intake in the earlier part of the day (including lunch), whereas evening chronotypes consumed the majority in the later part (also including lunch).' 'The dietary intervention adhered to the principles of the Mediterranean diet, and we did not recommend any fasting periods,' she added. 'Our focus was on aligning meal timing with individual chronotype rather than restricting eating windows.' Both diets had an equivalent daily calorie content, adjusted according to gender and starting weight. The primary outcome was weight change. Secondary outcomes were changes in body composition, biochemical markers, GM composition, and SCFAs. Which Chronotype Worked Better? A total of 117 participants (84%; mean age 49 years) completed the study (57 in the intervention group and 60 in the control group). While participants in both intervention groups experienced significant weight loss, reductions were greater in evening chronotypes (−3.7 kg) than in morning chronotypes (−3.2 kg) and control participants (−2.5 kg). Fat mass percentages decreased significantly in the intervention groups (−2.8% in evening and −1.6% in morning chronotypes), whereas the control group showed no significant change (−0.5%). Both the intervention groups showed reductions in total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, but only morning chronotypes showed a significant decrease in glucose levels (−2.9 mg/dL). A GM analysis revealed enrichment of SCFA-producing bacteria, such as Clostridiales vadin BB60 , and a reduction in Nitrososphaeraceae in the intervention groups, accompanied by an increased production of anti-inflammatory SCFAs compared with the control group: Isobutyric acid, +0.42% vs −0.25%; 2-methylbutyric acid, +0.43% vs −0.44%). The team concluded that a chronotype-adapted diet may be more effective than a standard low-calorie diet in improving body composition, metabolic risk profile, and GM in individuals with overweight/obesity — particularly among evening chronotypes. 'Evening chronotypes also experienced greater weight loss and reported reduced hunger despite consuming more calories later in the day, a timing typically discouraged,' Dinu noted. 'For individuals with an evening chronotype, adjusting the distribution of energy intake to better match their biological rhythms may lead to more effective and sustainable weight management,' she added. 'While further research is needed, these findings support the potential of chronotype-based strategies as part of a personalized approach to dietary intervention.' The research received no specific grant. No conflicts of interest were declared.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Health
- Express Tribune
Coffee boosts healthy aging odds for women: 30-year study
Listen to article A recent study from the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) explored the relationship between caffeine consumption in midlife and the likelihood of healthy aging (HA) in women during older adulthood. The study, involving 47,513 women with data collected since 1984, found that caffeine intake was modestly associated with better odds of achieving healthy aging. Healthy aging was defined as living to at least 70 years old without major chronic diseases, physical function limitations, mental health or cognitive impairments, or memory complaints. Caffeine intake, measured through food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) covering coffee, tea, cola, and decaffeinated beverages, was assessed based on data from 1984 and 1986. Results showed that by 2016, 3,706 women met the criteria for healthy aging. The median baseline caffeine intake was 315 mg/day, with regular coffee accounting for over 80% of total caffeine consumption. After 30 years of follow-up, the study revealed that higher caffeine intake, particularly from regular coffee, was associated with a modest increase in the likelihood of healthy aging. For every 80 mg/day increase in caffeine, the odds of healthy aging and the likelihood of being free from major chronic diseases, physical function limitations, and cognitive impairments slightly improved. Regular coffee intake, in particular, showed a positive association with healthy aging. For each additional cup of coffee consumed daily, the odds of achieving healthy aging increased by 5%, with similar increases in each domain of health. In contrast, no significant associations were found for tea or decaffeinated coffee intake. Cola consumption, however, was linked to worse health outcomes, with higher intake associated with lower odds of healthy aging across all domains. For each additional glass of cola consumed per day, the odds of achieving healthy aging dropped by 19% to 26%. The findings suggest that caffeine, particularly from regular coffee, may have a modest beneficial effect on healthy aging in women, while cola intake appears to be detrimental. However, no significant benefits were observed from tea or decaffeinated coffee. Full findings of the report were presented at NUTRITION 2025, the American Society for Nutrition's annual meeting, held from May 31 to June 3 in Orlando.
