Not a Myth, Here are 6 Medical Reasons Coffee Can Make You Live Longer

Illustration (Freepik/@jcomp)

YOGYAKARTA - For many people, coffee has become a morning routine to gather energy before going through the day. But did you know that coffee consumption not only makes you alert and energetic, but can also make you live longer. Research shows that moderate coffee consumption, about 2-3 cups a day, lowers the risk of developing a number of serious diseases. Curious? Well, the following will discuss a number of medical reasons why coffee can make you live longer. Keep reading until the end.

6 Medical Reasons Coffee Can Make You Live Longer

There are various health benefits that can be obtained from the habit of drinking coffee, including even closely related to diseases that often appear as people get older. Quoted from Verywell Health, here are 6 reasons why coffee can help prolong life:

Increase Overall Longevity

Drinking coffee can help you age healthily by preventing or reducing the risk of diseases associated with aging, such as cardiovascular disease and dementia. Caffeine and other compounds in coffee have anti-aging effects that work on various organs of the body.

These compounds can stop the production of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) which is involved in the aging process and is associated with many age-related diseases.

In addition, a study examining the life expectancy of adults in the United States found that those who drink one to two cups of coffee per day live an average of about two years longer than those who do not drink coffee.

Reducing the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

Both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee are associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, a condition that can shorten life. Phytochemicals in coffee help maintain the function of the liver and pancreas. These two organs regulate insulin sensitivity.

Insulin is a hormone that allows cells to take glucose from the blood for use in energy production. When the body becomes less sensitive to insulin, insulin resistance develops, which leads to high blood sugar levels and type 2 diabetes.

By supporting the organs involved in the insulin process, coffee can help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Lower the Risk of Several Types of Cancer

The content of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds in coffee can reduce the risk of certain cancers. Coffee consumption has been linked to a lower risk of liver cancer. For women with a body mass index higher than 25 (classified as overweight), consuming more coffee reduces the risk of endometrial cancer.

Other research shows that postmenopausal women who drink moderate amounts of coffee every day have a lower risk of liver and breast cancer.

Reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease

As you get older, the risk of heart and blood vessel disease increases. This condition can have a major impact on the quality of life and life expectancy of a person.

Although caffeine can raise blood pressure and dilate blood vessels temporarily, consuming coffee within reasonable limits has a positive effect on heart health. Drinking coffee in moderation is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.

People who consume coffee regularly are proven to have a lower risk of high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart rhythm), and heart failure. However, do not consume too much, the effect can be reversed to the detriment.

Maintaining Heart Health

Coffee can help protect the liver, the body's filtering organ. A healthy liver supports a healthy body and a long life.

Antioxidants found in coffee have beneficial effects on liver cells and may help prevent liver cancer, slow the progression of liver diseases such as cirrhosis, and may even reduce the ability of the hepatitis C virus, a virus that can cause liver damage, to replicate.

Protecting Brain Function

The brain is the center of control for body activities, so it determines the quality of a person's life. When brain function is maintained, the ability to think, remember, and make decisions will also function optimally. In this case, coffee also supports brain function.

The content of polyphenols and antioxidants in coffee has a positive effect on brain health. Meanwhile, caffeine helps improve memory, alertness, and cognition, as well as helping the process, that is, the brain's ability to reorganize and form new pathways even as it ages.

In addition, various other neuroprotective compounds are still being studied because they have the potential to reduce the risk of developing neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's.

So that's the discussion of 6 medical reasons for coffee to make you live longer, follow other interesting articles at VOI.ID. So as not to miss the latest news, follow and monitor our social media accounts!