Really? Caffeine slows aging
A small study on caffeine and aging may justify your daily coffee habit
It’s long been known that coffee drinkers live longer than abstainers, but it wasn’t altogether clear why. This study may answer that. Researchers following 100 people discovered a connection between caffeine consumption and age-related inflammation.
“The more caffeine people consumed, the more protected they were against a chronic state of inflammation,” says study author David Furman, PhD, consulting associate professor at the Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection at Stanford University. “There was no boundary, apparently.”
Professor Furman said that most of the diseases of aging are not really diseases of aging, per se, but rather diseases of inflammation. Older people tended to have more activity in several inflammation-related genes compared with the younger group (inflammation rises as we age). The more active these genes were, the more likely the person was to have high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries.
In the study, people who drank more than five cups of coffee a day showed extremely low levels of activity in the inflammatory gene pathway. Researchers say caffeine inhibits this circuit and turns the inflammatory pathway off.
Evidence-backed reason to enjoy your coffee: cardiologist
Dr. Chi-Ming Chow, a cardiologist at Medcan, says the study is novel and encouraging.
“If your stomach can handle the coffee and you are not having palpitations with coffee drinking, then go ahead and enjoy your coffee but recognize that everyone is different with a different tolerance,” says Dr. Chow. “I would not rush out to drink coffee if you do not like it, but we now have more reasons to drink coffee if we already like it.”
Iced lattes not included
Dr. Chow emphasizes that most studies supporting coffee and caffeinated beverages’ health benefits are unsweetened and dairy free.
“Excessive use of sugar and milk, especially cream, can be a problem. Use of sugar can provide unnecessary calories, while the use of cream or non-low fat milk can provide extra unsaturated fats,” says Dr. Chow.
Understanding inflammation and chronic disease
The study notes that more than 90 percent of all non-communicable diseases of aging are associated with chronic inflammation, with mounting evidence showing that chronic inflammation contributes to many cancers, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis and even depression. Having the ability to control or tone down the inflammatory response can potentially slow their development.
How reducing inflammation impacts our brain is particularly interesting to those hoping to extend their longevity.
“Cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease have been linked to unregulated inflammation,” says Dr. Chow. “To slow the cognitive function decline, it is worthwhile to takes steps to control the inflammation by exercising regularly, eating healthy foods, and keeping a healthy weight.”
Approaches to combat inflammation
Besides caffeine intake, there are numerous strategies for managing and preventing inflammation. They include nutrition (covered in a recent nutrition online seminar) and evidence-backed naturopathic methods like supplementation, acupuncture and stress management (covered in this naturopathic online seminar).
Dr. Chow warns of over-the-counter options that are not supported by medicine, and advises them that you keep it simple: keep your weight under control, stay active, eat mostly plants, and drink your coffee black.
