MILAN – Consumption of moderate amounts of alcohol and coffee is linked to living a longer life, new research out of the University of California-Irvine has revealed. Published in the journal Circulation, “The 90+ Study,” started in 2003 and examined “the oldest-old” age group — about 1,700 nonagenarians — to determine what is key to living to your 90th birthday and beyond.
The study revealed that moderate amounts — or less than five cups — of coffee each day can lower the risk of death from many diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and nervous system disorders. It can also lower death risk due to suicide.
The researchers reached this conclusion after analyzing the coffee consumption every four years of participants from three large studies: 74,890 women in the Nurses’ Health Study; 93,054 women in the Nurses’ Health Study 2; and 40,557 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. They did this by using validated food questionnaires. During the follow-up period of up to 30 years, 19,524 women and 12,432 men died from different causes.
The same research found regular exercise — as well as keeping busy with a regular hobby — is also key to living a longer life.
“I have no explanation for it, but I do firmly believe that modest drinking improves longevity,” Dr. Claudia Kawas, a key researcher for the study, recently said at the American Association for the Advancement of Science conference in Austin, according to the Independent.
Because the study was not designed to show a direct cause and effect relationship between coffee consumption and dying from illness, the researchers noted that the findings should be interpreted with caution. Still, this study contributes to the claim that moderate consumption of coffee offers health benefits.
