Drinking coffee may decrease the risk of heart and respiratory diseases, as well as stroke and diabetes.

Drinking coffee may decrease the risk of heart and respiratory diseases, as well as stroke and diabetes.

Thu May 17, 2012 07:00 AM ET
Content provided by Anna Azvolinsky, MyHealthNewsDaily

THE GIST

The association between drinking coffee and mortality was seen among different races and education levels.
A previous study showed that drinking four or more cups of coffee daily causes headaches, stomach upset, restlessness and a racing heartbeat.

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Coffee contains many chemicals, including antioxidants and compounds that can prevent mutations. Click to enlarge this image.

Drinking coffee might help you live longer, a new study suggests.

Results show that death rates over a 13-year period among men and women who drank coffee decreased with a greater number of cups per day, up to six. The trend was seen for deaths from any cause, and from specific causes such as heart disease, respiratory disease, stroke and diabetes. This relationship, however, was not seen for those who died of cancer.

 

"We observed associations between coffee-drinking and a range of different causes of death, and across a number of different groups," said lead author Neal Freedman, of the National Institutes of Health. "The effect was seen in both men and women, those of different body weights, and in both former and never smokers."
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The study showed an association, not a direct cause-effect relationship, between coffee and mortality rates.

Still, while high coffee consumption was previously thought to have adverse health effects, this study adds to the growing body of recent findings that show higher coffee consumption is not harmful, and in some cases may have health benefits, said Jeanine Genkinger, an epidemiology professor at the Columbia University School of Public Health in New York City, who was not involved in the research. Genkinger emphasized that the greatest benefits may come from black coffee — cream, sugar and additives may be detrimental to health.

The study will be published Thursday (May 17) in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Read the rest here.