Quote:Possible Reasons for Life Extension
There are two possible explanations for why coffee (apparently) reduces death risk. The beneficial effect could be due to coffee's ability to lower the risk of specific diseases and/or it could be due to helpful substances in the roasted coffee beans.
https://caloriebee.com/nutrition/Coffee-Drink...Expectancy
The beans are believed to contain a thousand or more different chemicals, including antioxidants and antibacterial substances. One coffee antioxidant of special interest to researchers in relation to human health is chlorogenic acid, a member of the polyphenol family. Antioxidants fight potentially dangerous free radicals which are made in the body as chemical reactions occur.
Disease Reduction
The discoveries showing that coffee drinking reduces the risk of certain diseases are exciting. Some of the diseases are listed below. It should be noted that the statistics were obtained from surveys rather than clinical trials. While survey results are important, they don't provide definite proof that a substance has a health benefit.
•Drinking four to five cups of caffeinated coffee every day in midlife has been shown to protect against Alzheimer's disease in old age. Starting to drink coffee at an older age has some protective benefit as well.
•In mice, researchers have shown that caffeinated coffee reduces the buildup of beta-amyloid in the brain. This substance makes up the characteristic plaque seen in the brains of human Alzheimer's patients. Drinking other caffeinated beverages doesn't have the same benefit.
•Australian scientists analyzed survey results and found that drinking one cup of coffee per day reduced the risk of type 2 diabetes by 7%. Drinking three to four cups a day produced a 25% lower risk. Drinking more than three cups of decaffeinated coffee a day produced a 33% lower risk.
•Drinking two to three cups of caffeinated coffee a day seems to reduce the risk of Parkinson's disease by about 25%, according to an analysis of different research studies.
•A small study has shown that the caffeine equivalent of three cups of coffee a day improves movement problems in people with Parkinson's disease.
Cancer Risk and Cardiovascular Problems
Coffee may reduce the risk of some types of cancer. The beverage seems to be both beneficial and detrimental with respect to cardiovascular problems.
•According to a twelve year study of more than 47,000 men in the United States, the men who drank six or more cups of coffee a day had a 20% lower risk of developing prostate cancer and a 60% lower risk of developing the most dangerous form of prostate cancer.
Drinking one to three cups of coffee a day resulted in a 30% lower risk of the most dangerous form of prostate cancer. The results of the study were unaffected by the amount of caffeine in the coffee.
•Some surveys suggest that drinking coffee significantly reduces the rate of liver disease or liver cancer. A recent study discovered that the rate of hepatocellular cancer decreased as the number of extra cups of caffeinated coffee per day increased (up to five extra cups of the beverage a day). Decaffeinated coffee was also effective, but to a lesser extent.
•A survey of 113,000 nurses and health professionals found that women who drank more than three cups of caffeinated coffee a day had a 21% lower chance of developing basal cell carcinoma, one form of skin cancer. Men had a 10% risk reduction. Consumption of an equivalent amount of caffeine from other foods or drinks had a similar benefit.
•Some research suggests that coffee reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes in the long term, but a few studies show that immediately after drinking the beverage the risk of a heart attack or stroke temporarily increases.
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