Results from a 9.8-Year Follow-Up of 40,000 Adults
Morning Coffee Lowers Mortality Risk by 16%
Risk of Death from Heart Disease Reduced by 31%
A study has found that morning coffee helps reduce mortality and heart disease. People who drink coffee in the morning have a lower mortality rate than those who drink it later in the day.
On the 11th, according to the Korea Food Communication Forum (KOFRUM), Dr. Lucci's team from the Department of Public Health and Tropical Medicine at Tulane University in New Orleans conducted a 9.8-year follow-up study on 40,725 adult men and women who participated in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2018.
Half of the study participants enjoyed coffee, while the other half did not drink coffee. Among all participants, 36% were "morning coffee" drinkers who only drank coffee in the morning (from 4 a.m. to noon). Sixteen percent enjoyed coffee throughout the day without time restrictions.
As a result, adults who only enjoyed morning coffee had a 16% lower risk of death from any cause over nearly 10 years compared to adults who did not drink coffee. In particular, the risk of death from cardiovascular disease was 31% lower. On the other hand, the association between coffee consumption and mortality or cardiovascular disease was not observed in those who drank coffee throughout the day.
In the paper, Dr. Lucci stated, "This study is the first to investigate the impact of coffee consumption timing on health, suggesting that morning coffee may be especially beneficial for health," adding, "Drinking coffee in the afternoon or evening can affect circadian rhythms and hormones such as melatonin, which may influence cardiovascular risk factors."
The research team explained that the anti-inflammatory effects of coffee, regardless of caffeine content, are strongest in the morning, which may be why morning coffee is more beneficial for health. This is because the body's inflammation levels peak in the morning. The team also noted, "The mortality risk reduction effect of coffee was observed in both moderate morning consumers (1-3 cups) and heavy consumers (3 or more cups)," adding, "Much of coffee's health benefits come from the anti-inflammatory effects of bioactive compounds such as caffeine and chlorogenic acid."
Studies showing coffee's health benefits have been consistently published. Coffee is rich in antioxidants and anticancer components such as chlorogenic acid and caffeine, which have been shown to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, obesity, and heart failure. However, coffee can have negative effects in some situations. In particular, excessive consumption may interfere with blood sugar control in diabetic patients. Other reported side effects include worsening stomach health, hair loss, and increased anxiety, so caution is needed when consuming coffee.
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