Brief (coffeeyo.com): A new study suggests some kinds of coffee may be linked to aging speed: instant coffee was associated with accelerated aging, while pour-over was linked to slower aging — possibly because pour-over retains more chlorogenic acid. Here is how to drink coffee more healthfully.
A new study suggests that certain types of coffee may be linked to aging speed. Which coffees should you drink less of, and how do you choose to balance taste and health?
Instant Coffee May Accelerate Aging
Recently, researchers at Chongqing Medical University published a study in the UK’s journal npj Food Science finding that drinking pour-over coffee was associated with slower aging, while instant coffee was associated with faster aging.
The researchers included nearly 50,000 participants from the UK Biobank with an average age of 56.4. Biological aging was quantified mainly through three indicators: leukocyte telomere length (shortening means accelerated aging), biological-age acceleration, and phenotype-age acceleration based on biomarker measurement.
The analysis showed:
Compared with non-coffee drinkers, instant-coffee intake was associated with faster increases in biological and phenotype age, and with shorter telomeres — consistent with signs of accelerated biological aging;
Pour-over coffee, by contrast, was associated with significantly lower biological-age and phenotype-age acceleration and with longer telomeres, indicating slower aging.
The study observed no clear relationship between other coffee types and aging speed. Subgroup analysis also found that among participants drinking more than 3 cups of instant coffee per day, men, those over 60, and smokers showed significantly faster aging.
The researchers analyzed that instant coffee may accelerate aging by raising inflammation levels in the body, while pour-over retains more chlorogenic acid, which can enhance cellular activity and energy metabolism and slow aging.
How to Drink Coffee More Healthfully
Beyond choosing the right type of coffee, when to drink it, how much per day, and who should avoid it all matter.
Pair it sensibly. Shi Haidan, a nutrition physician in the clinical nutrition department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, noted that beyond milk, coffee also pairs well with these “companions”:
Coconut water — softer on the palate and helps replenish electrolytes.
Cocoa powder — adds chocolate aroma while helping resist free radicals.
Cinnamon powder — fragrant and sweet, it lifts aroma and is antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
Morning is better. Liu Pingping, a Chinese registered dietitian, suggests that generally a cup around 10 a.m. gives a good energizing effect. Caffeine takes about 8 hours to metabolize, so don’t drink too late to avoid nighttime insomnia.
Don’t drink on an empty stomach. Caffeine stimulates gastric acid secretion and raises acid concentration, so drinking coffee on an empty stomach is not advised — best after breakfast.
Not too much per day. Per guidance from the European Food Safety Authority, the US FDA, and others, healthy adults should keep under 210–400 mg of caffeine per day (about 3–5 cups of coffee).
Pregnant and breastfeeding women should drink little or none; adolescents aged 12–18 should not exceed 100 mg of caffeine per day (about 1 cup).
People with excessive stomach acid, gastric ulcers, acid reflux, diarrhea, irritable bowel, poor sleep quality, or osteoporosis are advised not to drink coffee.
Sources: Xinhua News Agency, CCTV.com, Life Times, Guangming Daily, China Quality News Network. Cover image AI-generated.
Source: People’s Daily Science Popularization.
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