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For 10 years in an American study, people who drank coffee regularly were less likely to die from various causes, from heart disease and diabetes, than those who did not drink coffee at all.
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The more coffee the study participants drank, the lower their risk of dying, and the decaffeinated coffee drinkers showed a similar pattern.
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“Coffee contains numerous biologically active compounds, including phenolic acids, potassium, and caffeine,” said Dr. Erikka Loftfield of the National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Maryland.
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Many studies have shown that coffee consumption is associated with a lower risk of mortality and a lower risk of heart-related diseases, Loftfield said to Reuters Health via email.
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The researchers used data from a previous study done in 90,317 adults without cancer or a history of cardiovascular disease who were followed between 1998 and 2009. They had reported their coffee consumption, along with other diet and health details, at the start of the study. . By 2009, around 8,700 people had died. After taking into account other factors such as smoking, the researchers found that coffee drinkers were less likely to die during the study than non-drinkers.
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The risk of death was lowest for those who drank four to five cups of coffee a day. A similar association was observed among decaffeinated coffee drinkers as well, according to the results in American Journal of Epidemiology.
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Coffee drinkers had a lower risk of death from heart disease, chronic respiratory disease, diabetes, pneumonia and influenza and suicide, but not cancer, the researchers found.
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“Although coffee consumption has also been inversely associated with the incidence of certain cancers, such as liver, in epidemiological studies, there was no association between coffee and overall cancer mortality,” Loftfield said. . “This may be because coffee reduces the risk of mortality from some cancers, but not others.”
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People who drank two to three cups of coffee a day were about 18% less likely to die during the study’s follow-up compared to those who reported drinking no coffee, he said. Drinking up to five cups a day, or 400 milligrams of caffeine a day, is not associated with long-term health risks, Loftfield added.
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Moderate caffeine consumption, up to 200 milligrams per day, is still safe for pregnant women, according to a statement by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
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“There are a large number of very high-quality studies showing that people who drink more coffee tend to have better health outcomes,” said Dr. Marc J. Gunter of the Imperial College London, who did not participate in this new study.
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“Coffee consumption is correlated with other health behaviors,” and those who drink regularly may have other healthy habits, such as exercising and / or maintaining a healthy diet, although the researchers tried not to influence these factors in the study, Gunter told Reuters Health.
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Source: foxnews