The flow of positive health benefits from drinking coffee continues to pour in from medical journals, though researchers continue to admit they are not quite sure whether the benefits stem from caffeine in the coffee or from some of the 2000 other chemical compounds found in coffee, especially those with anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. As we’ve previously reported, moderate coffee consumption, while presenting a possible risk to certain populations, increasingly appears to be a beverage of choice for those interested in healthy aging. So let’s dive into the latest research. 

First, a very recent scientific study published in Ageing Research Reviews, reports on a comprehensive review of the scientific evidence connecting coffee and healthy aging. This study relays that coffee appears to not only be connected to longevity but also seems to support the health span during these extra years of life. We already are aware of the association between coffee consumption and lower risk for cardiovascular disease, some cancers and with all-cause mortality. Now we have further evidence that coffee seems to affect cellular function and the biological aging process. This study suggests that drinking 3 cups of coffee each day may help prolong your health span by close to two additional years. While this is not a recommendation to increase your daily coffee consumption, it does provide further support for the notion that coffee consumption can be a regular part of a healthy aging diet. For more on this study, place your order and read here.

There has also been a recent study finding an association between coffee consumption and a lower risk of several head, neck, mouth, and throat cancers. This research has been published in the journal Cancer and reports on data pooled from 14 previous studies to suggest that for people who drink more than 4 cups of coffee per day, in comparison to those who do not drink coffee, there is a lower risk of these head and neck cancers, which are the 7th most common cancers worldwide. Given the fact that lower risk was reported for those consuming decaffeinated coffee as well, these results suggest that compounds in coffee other than caffeine have anti-cancer properties. 

There’s also recent evidence that coffee consumption has a positive effect on the microbiome in your gut. We already have growing evidence of the powerful connection between the gut and broader aspects of health as you get older (including brain health) and now comes word that coffee drinking may greatly affect the makeup of your gut microbiome (the fungi, yeast, and bacteria that live in your GI tracts). This was the largest study to date examining the connection and while the exact connection is not yet understood, it does suggest that the polyphenols in coffee (with their strong antioxidant properties) may be acting as prebiotics to help support a healthier gut microbiome. For more on this study, look here.

Finally, there’s recent evidence that coffee consumption may play a positive role in your facial skin care regimen. According to a recent study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, another connection was suggested between the polyphenols found in coffee and improved skin elasticity, hydration, and delayed signs of aging. Lighter roasts of coffee were found to be more beneficial than darker roasts, as the more coffee beans are exposed to high temperatures, the less effective are their polyphenol compounds. And if you want to dig further into which types of coffee potentially have different health effects, grab a menu and click here.