If you have a drinking problem, keep it up! It could help you live longer.
And no, we’re not talking about housing a handle of vodka a day – we’re referring only to coffee. Get yourself to some AA classes!
According to nutrition researcher Walter Willett from the Harvard School of Public Health, “people who drank three to five cups of coffee per day had about a 15 percent lower [risk of premature] mortality compared to people who didn’t drink coffee.”
Decaf drinkers also saw similar benefits.
The findings were published in the journal Circulation, and build on other evidence that links coffee to health benefits. Previous research has shown that coffee drinkers have a lower risk of stroke and developing Type 2 diabetes.
Good news right? RIGHT! But with anything good in life, there’s a catch – drinking a ton of caffeine is a different story. According to NPR,
Research has shown that consuming more than 400 milligrams of caffeine can interfere with sleep and create feelings of unease. And some of us are even more sensitive.
One study found that 200 milligrams of caffeine (the equivalent of about two cups of coffee) is an optimal amount to enhance cognitive function and mood among sleep-deprived people. But we don’t all metabolize caffeine the same way.
That’s all well and good, but we’re optimists! So we’re blanking out on the bad news. Drink away!
[H/T: NPR]
