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A daily cup of coffee could hold secret to long life
By JENNY HOPE
Last updated at 5:02 PM on 31st August 2010
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Drinking a cup of coffee a day could hold the secret to long life, claim researchers.
A unique investigation into what helps people live to be 100 shows even those with high blood pressure are healthier after a daily cup of coffee.
New findings from a study released today found coffee helps improve the elasticity of the arteries, keeping them younger, which can ward off heart disease.
People who drank one to two cups of coffee a day had more elastic arteries than those who drank little or no coffee in a study
The people involved were all aged between 65 and 100, inhabitants of the 99-square-mile Greek island of Ikaria in the eastern Aegean sea. Dubbed the land of longevity, one-third of residents reach the age of 90.
The population suffers 20 per cent less cancer and half the rate of heart disease of other western countries, and there is virtually no dementia.
There are 10 per cent more 90-year-old brothers and sisters living there than the European average.
The island has been a destination for health tourists since the 6th century BC, when ancient Greeks and Romans made the pilgrimage to hot springs fabled for their beneficial effect on joint and skin ailments.
Modern-day experts claim the heart-protective Mediterranean diet, supplemented with locally produced honey and herbal teas, also play a part.
Now regular coffee drinking has been investigated by researchers from the University of Athens to see if it also helps people live longer.
They looked at 485 people aged between 65 and 100, all of them long-term residents of Ikaria, who had diagnosed high blood pressure, medically known as hypertension.
By increasing the load on the heart, hypertension results in stiffness of the arteries and reduced elasticity which in turn increases the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes.
Dr Christina Chrysohoou, who led the study, said there was conflicting evidence about the effect of coffee drinking on heart health, with some studies showing it aggravated high blood pressure.
But drinking coffee is a deeply embedded social tradition within Greek culture which made it imperative to investigate in this island with high life expectancy, she said.
All those taking part in the study had average blood pressure levels that were rated as high.
Their arteries were assessed for distensibility - or elasticity - using calculations that measure the range between heart beats.
The results showed 56 per cent were moderate drinkers consuming between one and two cups of coffee a day.
They had the best arterial health, with their arteries behaving more like those found in younger people.
Their arteries were more elastic than those measured in one-third of people who drank little or no coffee.
Around one in 10 drinking three or more cups a day had the worst levels of elasticity.
The findings were released yesterday (tues) at the European Society of Cardiology congress in Stockholm.
Dr Chrysohoou said moderate coffee drinkers were consuming between 25-50ml of coffee a day.
Typically they were drinking strong Greek coffee but other types of coffee might work as well, she said.
However, single shots of Espresso would not be too small, she added.
Dr Chrysohoou suggested that ingredients such as caffeine and antioxidants may be partly improving arterial function by increasing their ability to take up nitric oxide, which is impaired in hypertensive patients. But drinking too much coffee would probably cancel out the effect, she added.
There was no evidence that increasing coffee consumption to three to five cups a day would lead to further improvements in aortic distensibility she said.
One of the critical findings of the study was that moderate coffee drinkers took their time to relax and enjoy it, she said.
They were socialising, with friends in cafeterias or with family at home, relaxing and discussing daily matters. Its done in good spirit which is psychologically important she added.
Dr Euan Paul, executive director of the British Coffee Association, said These new study findings from the University of Athens highlight that moderate coffee consumption is associated with improved elasticity of the arteries amongst those that drink coffee compared with those that drink less coffee.
This is important as it indicates that coffee consumption may reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis and future cardiovascular events by improving aortic distensibility.
Coffee is one of the most heavily researched products in the world today, this study adds to the weight of scientific evidence which shows that moderate coffee consumption of around 4 - 5 cups per day, is safe and may even confer some health benefits.
He pointed out that pregnant women are advised to reduce caffeine intake during pregnancy to 2 - 3 cups per day. This includes caffeine intake from tea, coffee, cola, and chocolate.
Dr Jeremy Pearson, deputy medical director of the British Heart Foundation, said Living the Greek lifestyle and eating the Greek diet is certainly good for you, as long as you dont smoke the Greek cigarettes.
But he was sceptical that your average flustered executive can take up coffee drinking as a way of improving heart health.
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Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1307751/A-daily-cup-coffee-hold-secret-long-life.html#ixzz0yEKlXx8A
By JENNY HOPE
Last updated at 5:02 PM on 31st August 2010
Comments (0)
Add to My Stories
Drinking a cup of coffee a day could hold the secret to long life, claim researchers.
A unique investigation into what helps people live to be 100 shows even those with high blood pressure are healthier after a daily cup of coffee.
New findings from a study released today found coffee helps improve the elasticity of the arteries, keeping them younger, which can ward off heart disease.
People who drank one to two cups of coffee a day had more elastic arteries than those who drank little or no coffee in a study
The people involved were all aged between 65 and 100, inhabitants of the 99-square-mile Greek island of Ikaria in the eastern Aegean sea. Dubbed the land of longevity, one-third of residents reach the age of 90.
The population suffers 20 per cent less cancer and half the rate of heart disease of other western countries, and there is virtually no dementia.
There are 10 per cent more 90-year-old brothers and sisters living there than the European average.
The island has been a destination for health tourists since the 6th century BC, when ancient Greeks and Romans made the pilgrimage to hot springs fabled for their beneficial effect on joint and skin ailments.
Modern-day experts claim the heart-protective Mediterranean diet, supplemented with locally produced honey and herbal teas, also play a part.
Now regular coffee drinking has been investigated by researchers from the University of Athens to see if it also helps people live longer.
They looked at 485 people aged between 65 and 100, all of them long-term residents of Ikaria, who had diagnosed high blood pressure, medically known as hypertension.
By increasing the load on the heart, hypertension results in stiffness of the arteries and reduced elasticity which in turn increases the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes.
Dr Christina Chrysohoou, who led the study, said there was conflicting evidence about the effect of coffee drinking on heart health, with some studies showing it aggravated high blood pressure.
But drinking coffee is a deeply embedded social tradition within Greek culture which made it imperative to investigate in this island with high life expectancy, she said.
All those taking part in the study had average blood pressure levels that were rated as high.
Their arteries were assessed for distensibility - or elasticity - using calculations that measure the range between heart beats.
The results showed 56 per cent were moderate drinkers consuming between one and two cups of coffee a day.
They had the best arterial health, with their arteries behaving more like those found in younger people.
Their arteries were more elastic than those measured in one-third of people who drank little or no coffee.
Around one in 10 drinking three or more cups a day had the worst levels of elasticity.
The findings were released yesterday (tues) at the European Society of Cardiology congress in Stockholm.
Dr Chrysohoou said moderate coffee drinkers were consuming between 25-50ml of coffee a day.
Typically they were drinking strong Greek coffee but other types of coffee might work as well, she said.
However, single shots of Espresso would not be too small, she added.
Dr Chrysohoou suggested that ingredients such as caffeine and antioxidants may be partly improving arterial function by increasing their ability to take up nitric oxide, which is impaired in hypertensive patients. But drinking too much coffee would probably cancel out the effect, she added.
There was no evidence that increasing coffee consumption to three to five cups a day would lead to further improvements in aortic distensibility she said.
One of the critical findings of the study was that moderate coffee drinkers took their time to relax and enjoy it, she said.
They were socialising, with friends in cafeterias or with family at home, relaxing and discussing daily matters. Its done in good spirit which is psychologically important she added.
Dr Euan Paul, executive director of the British Coffee Association, said These new study findings from the University of Athens highlight that moderate coffee consumption is associated with improved elasticity of the arteries amongst those that drink coffee compared with those that drink less coffee.
This is important as it indicates that coffee consumption may reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis and future cardiovascular events by improving aortic distensibility.
Coffee is one of the most heavily researched products in the world today, this study adds to the weight of scientific evidence which shows that moderate coffee consumption of around 4 - 5 cups per day, is safe and may even confer some health benefits.
He pointed out that pregnant women are advised to reduce caffeine intake during pregnancy to 2 - 3 cups per day. This includes caffeine intake from tea, coffee, cola, and chocolate.
Dr Jeremy Pearson, deputy medical director of the British Heart Foundation, said Living the Greek lifestyle and eating the Greek diet is certainly good for you, as long as you dont smoke the Greek cigarettes.
But he was sceptical that your average flustered executive can take up coffee drinking as a way of improving heart health.
Print this article
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1307751/A-daily-cup-coffee-hold-secret-long-life.html#ixzz0yEKlXx8A
deleted_user
that's ineresting. I don't like strong coffee. I measure mine and use the same measure every time. I only use 1/3 cup per pot, and I never let it sit on the burner. I wonder if I get to drink twice as much?
grannie
I have been through, don't drink coffee to drink coffee to instant is bad. I just drink my coffee brewed or instant I reckon I am OK, no ill effects that I know of.
deleted_user
It is funny to read this because my doctor just told me today to try and stop drinking coffee for a week to see if my thirst problem goes away. I love my coffee, but I think it is dehydrating me! Despite the fact that I drink a lot of water too. I will stop for a week ... if I can ... haha, but if not, I will limit myself to 1 cup a day.
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