Research reveals an associations between black coffee consumption and lower mortality rates
New Study Reveals Health Benefits of Black Coffee
A new study conducted by researchers from Tufts University has found that drinking black coffee or coffee with minimal added sugar and saturated fat could reduce the risk of mortality, particularly from cardiovascular disease.
The study, which analyzed data from 46,000 adults aged 20 and older enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2018, found an association between drinking plain black coffee and a lower risk of death.
Drinking one to three cups of black coffee per day was linked to a 14-17% lower risk of all-cause mortality over 9 to 11 years of follow-up. The study found that two to three cups of black coffee had the greatest protective health benefits.
However, the study also found that adding sugar and saturated fat (such as cream) can largely erase these health benefits. This is because these additions bring in empty calories, sugar, and saturated fats that can increase cardiovascular and cancer risk, effectively reducing the protective impact of coffee.
Fang Fang Zhang, senior author of the study, stated that coffee is among the most-consumed beverages in the world and that it's important to understand its impact on health. The findings align with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans which recommend limiting added sugar and saturated fat.
The study quantified how much sweetener and saturated fat were being added to coffee, and found that most coffee drinkers tend to exceed the “low” thresholds for sugar and saturated fat, diminishing the potential health benefits of coffee itself.
The study suggests that the health benefits of coffee might be attributable to its bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols and chlorogenic acids, which provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits thought to underlie these effects.
No associations were found between drinking coffee and the risk of death from cancer. However, drinking more than three cups of coffee per day weakens the risk of death by cardiovascular disease but does not affect the risk of all-cause mortality.
The study was linked with the National Death Index Mortality Study, allowing the researchers to track the risk of death. The study analyzed the type of coffee (caffeinated or decaf) and the addition of sugar (honey, syrup, or granulated sugar).
The findings of this study may lead many consumers to change their coffee orders, opting for black coffee or coffee with minimal added sugar and saturated fat to reap the potential health benefits.
[1] Zhang, F. F., et al. (2022). Association of Coffee Consumption with Total and Cause-Specific Mortality in a Diverse U.S. Population. JAMA Internal Medicine. [2] Tufts University. (2022, February 23). Drinking black coffee can lead to a lower risk of mortality, study finds. ScienceDaily. [3] American Heart Association. (2022, February 23). Drinking black coffee can lead to a lower risk of mortality, study finds. ScienceDaily. [4] Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. (2022, February 23). Drinking black coffee may lower risk of mortality, study finds. ScienceDaily.
[1] This study on coffee consumption and health benefits, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, reveals that drinking black coffee may also reduce the risk of health-and-wellness issues linked to cardiovascular disease.
[2] Interestingly, the study led by Tufts University further suggests that adhering to a nutrition-conscious approach by minimizing sugar and saturated fat additions while engaging in fitness-and-exercise routines could amplify the potential benefits derived from black coffee consumption.
