Large scale studies in America, Japan and the UK have revealed that there are major health benefits to consuming your regular cup o’ Joe.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and Imperial College London conducted research and found that higher levels of coffee consumption were linked to reduced levels of cancer and heart disease.
“During a mean follow-up of 16.4 years, 41 693 deaths occurred. Compared with non-consumers, participants in the highest quartile of coffee consumption had statistically significantly lower all-cause mortality,” Dr Marc Gunther wrote on the IARC website.
The research also found that coffee decreased the risk of ovarian cancer
The trial, one of the largest of its kind, was carried out by analysing data from 521,330 people across Europe.
Coffee beans consist of compounds like caffeine and antioxidants, which can be affected by the various coffee preparations to help benefit the body. As part of the research, the team investigated the difference in the health benefits between different types of coffee; for instance: an espresso in Italy, to an Americano in Belgium, to filter coffee in Ireland. They found that the health benefits did not vary by country.
“We found that higher coffee consumption was associated with a lower risk of death from any cause, and specifically for circulatory diseases, and digestive diseases,” Dr Gunther added.
“Importantly, these results were similar across all of the 10 European countries, with variable coffee drinking habits and customs. Our study also offers important insights into the possible mechanisms for the beneficial health effects of coffee.”
Using data from The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition, researchers assessed the test subjects' diets with questionnaires and interviews. The highest level of coffee consumption by volume was Denmark (900 mL per day) and lowest was in Italy (approximately 92 mL per day).
The study revealed that coffee-drinkers were more likely to be younger and more inclined to drink, smoke and eat less fruit and veg. However, the study concluded that coffee-drinkers have better glucose control than non-coffee drinkers.
“We found that drinking more coffee was associated with a more favourable liver function profile and immune response,” Dr Gunter explained. “This, along with the consistency of the results with other studies in the US and Japan, gives us greater confidence that coffee may have beneficial health effects.”
Coffee is one of the world’s most popular drinks, with approximately 2.25 billion cups consumed daily around the globe.
The journal Scientific Reports reported that coffee can also reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and brain tumours. Both studies reported that decaf is almost as beneficial as coffee.
What do you think, mums? Are you going to have a double espresso instead of just one? Or ditch the teapot for a percolator?
