Live Longer? Drink Coffee!

Posted on January 20, 2017

Photo: flickr

Due to the conclusion of numerous studies in the recent years, many have come to believe that coffee drinkers may live longer. They have uncovered one of the mechanisms underlying this association.

The discovery of an inflammatory process that might drive the development of cardiovascular disease in later life revealed that caffeine consumption helps to counter this inflammatory process.

Food and beverages that contain caffeine such as coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks, and chocolate are best known for its brain-stimulating abilities.

Numerous studies have revealed how regular coffee intake may not only provide morning energy boost but also increase longevity. One particular study published in 2015 reported that coffee drinkers who consumed one to five cups per day had a lower risk of all-cause mortality than people who did not.

Studies were analysed on the factors that contribute to poor heart health in older age due to inflammatory processes. High gene cluster activity has been found to be linked to the inflammation.

Participants who had the high gene cluster activity were found to be more likely to have arterial stiffness – risk factor for heart attack and stroke as compared to subjects who had low gene cluster activity.

Adults in the high gene cluster activity group also had high concentrations of IL-1-beta in their blood, as well as increased activity of free radicals - which are uncharged molecules that can cause cell damage - and a number of nucleic acid metabolites that are produced by free radical activity.

Further analysis revealed how caffeine might counter the negative effects of nucleic acid metabolites.

Co-senior author Mark Davis, Ph.D., also of the Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection at Stanford, says these findings demonstrate that "an underlying inflammatory process, which is associated with aging, is not only driving cardiovascular disease but is, in turn, driven by molecular events that we may be able to target and combat."

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Category(s):Health / Illness / Medical Issues

Source material from Medical News Today