Coffee has long been part of a daily ritual for millions of people, but a new study adds another benefit to the beverage: its possible impact on lifespan. And, most interestingly, the benefits depend not so much on the flavor or type of beans, but on the method of preparation.
This is reported by eatthis.com, citing the work of scientists from Southern Medical University in Guangzhou (China). The study was published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.
Researchers analyzed data from more than 171,000 participants in the British Biobank, who recorded their eating habits and lifestyle for seven years. It turned out that those who regularly drank black coffee without sugar had a 16-20% lower risk of premature death compared to those who did not drink coffee.
Even more surprising were the results for those who added a small amount of sugar to their drinks — about one tablespoon (12 grams). This group had an even lower risk of premature death, at 29–31%.
Nutritionist Dana Ellis Hannes notes that these findings are in good agreement with previous scientific data.
According to her, coffee is a natural anti-inflammatory drink and contains a significant amount of polyphenols and antioxidants that have a positive effect on health. Black coffee remains the healthiest because it does not contain additional fats or sweeteners.
“Pure coffee without sweeteners retains all its beneficial properties, while sugar or cream can add inflammatory compounds,” explains Hannes.
At the same time, the expert emphasizes that a small amount of sugar is not a problem if the overall diet is balanced. One teaspoon does not cause sharp fluctuations in glucose levels and is not harmful to health - unlike popular sweet coffee drinks, which can contain up to 8-12 teaspoons of sugar along with cream.
Thus, the researchers suggest: the habit of drinking black or only lightly sweetened coffee may be a simple but effective step for potentially increasing life expectancy.
