On the 27th, as the morning temperature dropped close to 0 degrees in most parts of the country, showing a late cold snap, a commuter warming their hands with a hot coffee on their way to work in the Sejongno area of Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@
A study published in the world's top medical journal revealed that drinking coffee leads to walking more, which can ultimately reduce the risk of death.
On the 28th, according to the Korea Food Communication Forum (KOFRUM), Professor Gregory M. Marcus of the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine's Cardiology Department analyzed the impact of coffee consumption on physical activity in 100 adults (average age 39). The results showed that on days when participants drank coffee, they walked 1,000 more steps than usual.
To clearly analyze the effects of coffee on health, the research team monitored the participants' heartbeats continuously for 24 hours over 14 days, and equipped them with continuous glucose monitors and electrocardiogram devices.
The participants were required to follow a strict schedule. For the first two days, they were allowed to drink as much caffeinated coffee as they wanted, and for the next two days, they were asked not to drink coffee. This cycle was repeated over two weeks. Participants were instructed to press a button on their heart rate monitors each time they drank coffee to record their intake in real time.
To ensure compliance, the research team sent daily reminder texts. Participants were reimbursed for their coffee purchases upon submitting receipts with purchase dates. The team also used a type of virtual monitoring called ‘geofencing’ to track participants’ visits to coffee shops.
As a result, on days when coffee consumption was allowed, participants typically drank 1 to 3 cups of coffee per day, with some drinking as many as 6 cups. According to the research team, participants walked an average of 1,000 more steps on days they drank coffee compared to days they did not. Each additional cup of coffee increased the step count by 600 steps.
The research team stated in the paper, “It is unclear why people move more and walk an additional 1,000 steps on days they drink coffee,” but suggested that “coffee consumption may increase energy and motivation.”
Studies show that walking an extra 1,000 steps daily can reduce mortality by 6 to 15%. This means that coffee drinkers may have a reduced risk of death.
The team also tracked the effects of coffee on heart palpitations, a relatively common experience among healthy coffee drinkers. While some institutions warn that heart palpitations after coffee consumption may be a side effect, the research team stated, “Coffee does not cause typical types of palpitations in healthy men and women.”
This study was published in the latest issue of the world’s most prestigious medical journal, the New England Journal of Medicine.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
