Coffee boosts your energy and makes you mentally alert, but do you know that this pick-me-up can also prolong your life?

According to a Portuguese study, drinking one or more cups of coffee a day may increase longevity in people with kidney disease.

Drinking plenty of coffee daily may increase longevity

Past studies involving healthy people linked regular coffee consumption to a lower risk of dying. But prior to the Portuguese study, it was unclear whether this link extended to people with chronic kidney disease, who have an increased risk of premature death.

To answer this question, researchers examined the caffeine intake of 4,863 Americans with chronic kidney disease. The patients had previously taken part in a national survey that tracked their health and diet for an average of five years. During that period, 1,283 of them passed away.

The researchers grouped the patients according to the amount of caffeine they consumed every day. The first group consumed an amount equivalent to a cup of iced tea; the second had an amount equivalent to a cup of coffee; the third had the equivalent of one to two cups; and the fourth consumed up to 1,378 milligrams (mg), which is comparable to drinking multiple cups of coffee every day.

Compared to the patients in the first group, those in the second group had a 12 percent lower risk of dying while those in the third group had a 22 percent risk reduction. Those in the fourth group, on the other hand, had a 24 percent lower risk of death.

These effects remained consistent even when mortality risk factors were accounted for. These risk factors included age, gender, income, educational attainment, high blood pressure, smoking habit, BMI, stroke or heart attack history, alcohol consumption and race.

The researchers attributed their findings to caffeine’s ability to promote the release of compounds that improve the function of your blood vessels. These compounds included nitric oxide, which causes your blood vessels to relax, helps prevent blood clots, regulates cell death and keeps the lining of your blood vessels functioning properly.

High levels of nitric oxide are extremely beneficial to people with chronic kidney disease because the condition accelerates the development of atherosclerosis – the buildup of plaques in the arteries. Atherosclerosis could cause heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular events.

Because of their findings, the researchers recommended drinking more coffee to prolong your life, especially if you have chronic kidney disease.

More science-backed health benefits of coffee

As a popular pick-me-up, coffee is commonly consumed to stay awake late at night or perk up a slow morning. But this beverage has a lot more to offer than just an energy boost. Check out some of the science-backed health benefits of coffee:

• Improves mental health – Research shows that coffee drinkers are less likely to be depressed than those who don’t drink coffee.
• Wards off diabetes – Coffee is rich in polyphenols, which are potent antioxidants that can lower your risk of Type 2 diabetes.
• Protects against heart disease – Coffee is particularly rich in the antioxidant chlorogenic acid, which helps lower cholesterol, triglycerides and blood sugar. And as mentioned earlier, caffeine promotes the release of nitric oxide, which helps maintain the health of your blood vessels.
• Fights brain diseases – Studies link regular coffee intake to a lower risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. This is attributed to compounds in roasted coffee beans called phenylindanes, which help prevent the toxic buildup of proteins in the brain.
• Promotes weight loss – Research shows that drinking four cups of coffee daily can reduce your body fat by four percent.

How much coffee is too much?

Caffeine, an active ingredient in coffee, has its perks but consuming too much of it can also be bad for your health. For instance, it can make you restless and cause you to lose sleep at night. As such, it’s important to drink coffee in moderation to prevent these unwanted side effects.

So how much coffee can you safely drink in a day? Multiple studies suggest that consuming up to 400 mg of caffeine a day – equivalent to four cups of coffee daily – is safe for most adults. However, some people drink much more than that without any issues.

Keep in mind that other foods and drinks also contain caffeine, such as tea, energy drinks and chocolate. You should take into account other caffeine sources in your diet before increasing your coffee intake.

Coffee’s health benefits go beyond a boost in energy. This popular pick-me-up can also increase your longevity, keep your weight off and protect your heart and brain from disease.

Sources:

DailyMail.co.uk

Academic.OUP.com 1

Healthline.com 1

Academic.OUP.com 2

AHAJournals.org

EatThis.com

Healthline.com 2