Latest news with #SaraMahdavi
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Harvard‑backed study reveals each cup of coffee boosts healthy aging odds by 5%; How many cups should you have per day?
Coffee doesn't need any more good press than it already has. Thanks to its rich source of antioxidants and certain compounds like caffeine, coffee can be beneficial for health. Moderate consumption of coffee has often been linked to reduced risks of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, liver and endometrial cancers, Parkinson's disease, and depression. Moreover, coffee can also improve mood, enhance cognitive function, and boost physical performance. So, having your daily cuppa not only comes with great benefits, but also preps you for the hustle and bustle! But could your daily coffee habit be a secret to aging gracefully? Turns out, the answer is yes. A major new study, backed by Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health, suggests so, and it might have you brewing another cup. What does the study say? In a massive study of nearly 50,000 women over a time frame of 30 years, researchers found that drinking more coffee – to a point – during midlife was linked to less chronic disease, physical mobility issues and cognitive decline in later years. However, other caffeinated products, plus decaffeinated coffee, did not garner the same results. The aforementioned study tracked 47,513 women from the US Nurses' Health Study, beginning between 1984 and 1986, when participants were aged 45–60. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo This wasn't superficial: to qualify, participants had to live past 70 and remain free of 11 major chronic diseases (including heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes), while maintaining robust mental, cognitive, and physical health. Researchers followed them for over three decades, ending in 2016, and identified 3,706 women who met the criteria for "healthy aging." Coffee intake – both in type and quantity – was tracked through rigorous questionnaires. Researchers converted it into caffeine intake (measured per 80 mg unit, roughly the amount in a single espresso shot). On average, healthy agers consumed 315 mg of caffeine daily, the equivalent of three small cups of coffee. What are the findings? Dr Sara Mahdavi, from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, as reported by New Atlas, stated, 'Our study has several key strengths,' adding, 'In addition to the large sample size and 30 years of follow-up, we assessed several different aspects of longevity and healthy aging as well as very comprehensive information on nutritional and lifestyle habits that were collected every four years after the initiation of the study. ' What is the key takeaway? Each extra cup of brewed caffeinated coffee—up to about five cups a day—was linked with a 2% to 5% increased chance of healthy aging. Why does this matter? Over time, modest gains stack up. For someone drinking three cups daily, versus none, that's around a 15% to 25% increased likelihood of aging healthily – a substantial difference. As Dr Mahdavi stated, 'While past studies have linked coffee to individual health outcomes, our study is the first to assess coffee's impact across multiple domains of aging over three decades.' As per her, 'The findings suggest that caffeinated coffee – not tea or decaf – may uniquely support aging trajectories that preserve both mental and physical function.' More than caffeine: Coffee's unique blend What's fascinating is that this benefit wasn't observed with tea, decaf, soda, or other caffeine sources. In fact, cola intake was linked to 19% to 26% lower odds of healthy aging per daily glass. This suggests that coffee's bioactive compounds, like chlorogenic acids, polyphenols, and diterpenes, play a starring role, beyond caffeine itself. Harvard Health echoes this, noting that coffee's antioxidant components may improve insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation. According to Dr Madhavi, 'These results, while preliminary, suggest that small, consistent habits can shape long-term health.' The bitter/sweet spot: 2 to 4 cups a day As Dr Madhavi quoted, 'Moderate coffee intake may offer some protective benefits when combined with other healthy behaviors such as regular exercise, a healthy diet, and avoiding smoking. While this study adds to prior evidence suggesting coffee intake may be linked with healthy aging, the benefits from coffee are relatively modest compared to the impact of overall healthy lifestyle habits and warrant further investigation. ' What's the ideal number of cups, then? Most health benefits plateau after 3 to 4 cups daily. Even Harvard Health states moderate intake (2 to 4 cups) is beneficial for longevity and cardiovascular health. The Mayo Clinic recommends up to 400 mg/day – about four cups – as a safe limit. Moreover, drinking more than 5 cups daily has shown diminishing returns, and could bring downsides like anxiety, insomnia, digestive issues, or elevated cholesterol (especially from unfiltered brews). Besides, genetics also matters in this case, as individuals with slower caffeine metabolism may not experience the same benefits, and could be more sensitive to harm. Coffee drinkers undergo lower risks of death as compared to non-coffee drinkers: Study One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Tea or coffee? Harvard researcher's 30-year study on 50,000 women might settle the debate
In a revelation that could reshape your morning routine, a Harvard-backed study spanning over three decades and involving nearly 50,000 women has linked moderate coffee consumption with healthier aging and improved longevity. And no, tea or decaf doesn't make the cut. Led by Dr. Sara Mahdavi, a postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the research presented at the American Society of Nutrition's annual meeting suggests that caffeinated coffee—specifically—may play a pivotal role in preserving both mental sharpness and physical vitality well into old age. How Coffee Came Into the Anti-Aging Spotlight Beginning in 1984, the study followed 47,513 women, tracking their health outcomes, lifestyle choices, and daily beverage habits. Fast forward to 2016, and only 3,706 of them qualified as 'healthy agers.' What counted as healthy aging? Reaching age 70 or older without major chronic illnesses, cognitive decline, or physical impairments—and with self-reported good mental health. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 20 Things Women Should NEVER Wear! Undo The standout factor? Coffee consumption. Women who drank at least one cup of caffeinated coffee daily were more likely to fall into the healthy aging group. Even more compelling: for every additional cup consumed per day (up to five), the chances of aging well increased by 2% to 5%. The benefits, however, tapered off after five cups—suggesting moderation is still key. 'Moderate coffee intake may offer some protective benefits when combined with other healthy behaviors,' said Dr. Mahdavi in a press release, adding that the findings reinforce—but don't outweigh—the impact of exercise, a balanced diet, and avoiding smoking. You Might Also Like: India's silent epidemic: 6 foods to include in your diet if you have fatty liver Not All Caffeine Is Created Equal Interestingly, the benefits were exclusive to regular coffee. Tea and decaffeinated versions showed no significant impact on healthy aging, while soda—specifically cola—was associated with reduced positive health outcomes. This isn't the first study to give coffee a gold star. A separate study published in May 2024 involving 50,000 American adults found that one to three cups of coffee daily reduced the risk of death within the next decade by 15% compared to non-coffee drinkers. But Dr. Mahdavi cautions that coffee isn't a miracle brew. While it may help tip the scales toward graceful aging, its effects are modest when weighed against broader lifestyle choices. 'The benefits from coffee are relatively modest compared to the impact of overall healthy lifestyle habits and warrant further investigation,' she said. So, Should You Pour Another Cup? If you're healthy, active, and already enjoy your daily brew, science says—go ahead. Your coffee habit may be doing more than waking you up. It might just be helping you age better. But remember, more isn't always better. It's about striking the right balance—just like the perfect cup. You Might Also Like: This 'healthy' breakfast drink may be doing more harm than good for diabetics. Health experts warn
Economic Times
21-06-2025
- Health
- Economic Times
Tea or coffee? Harvard researcher's 30-year study on 50,000 women might settle the debate
How Coffee Came Into the Anti-Aging Spotlight You Might Also Like: India's silent epidemic: 6 foods to include in your diet if you have fatty liver Not All Caffeine Is Created Equal So, Should You Pour Another Cup? You Might Also Like: This 'healthy' breakfast drink may be doing more harm than good for diabetics. Health experts warn In a revelation that could reshape your morning routine, a Harvard-backed study spanning over three decades and involving nearly 50,000 women has linked moderate coffee consumption with healthier aging and improved longevity. And no, tea or decaf doesn't make the by Dr. Sara Mahdavi, a postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the research presented at the American Society of Nutrition's annual meeting suggests that caffeinated coffee—specifically—may play a pivotal role in preserving both mental sharpness and physical vitality well into old in 1984, the study followed 47,513 women, tracking their health outcomes, lifestyle choices, and daily beverage habits. Fast forward to 2016, and only 3,706 of them qualified as 'healthy agers.' What counted as healthy aging? Reaching age 70 or older without major chronic illnesses, cognitive decline, or physical impairments—and with self-reported good mental standout factor? Coffee consumption. Women who drank at least one cup of caffeinated coffee daily were more likely to fall into the healthy aging group. Even more compelling: for every additional cup consumed per day (up to five), the chances of aging well increased by 2% to 5%. The benefits, however, tapered off after five cups—suggesting moderation is still key.'Moderate coffee intake may offer some protective benefits when combined with other healthy behaviors,' said Dr. Mahdavi in a press release, adding that the findings reinforce—but don't outweigh—the impact of exercise, a balanced diet, and avoiding the benefits were exclusive to regular coffee. Tea and decaffeinated versions showed no significant impact on healthy aging, while soda—specifically cola—was associated with reduced positive health isn't the first study to give coffee a gold star. A separate study published in May 2024 involving 50,000 American adults found that one to three cups of coffee daily reduced the risk of death within the next decade by 15% compared to non-coffee Dr. Mahdavi cautions that coffee isn't a miracle brew. While it may help tip the scales toward graceful aging, its effects are modest when weighed against broader lifestyle choices. 'The benefits from coffee are relatively modest compared to the impact of overall healthy lifestyle habits and warrant further investigation,' she you're healthy, active, and already enjoy your daily brew, science says—go ahead. Your coffee habit may be doing more than waking you up. It might just be helping you age better. But remember, more isn't always better. It's about striking the right balance—just like the perfect cup.
CNBC
20-06-2025
- Health
- CNBC
Harvard study of nearly 50,000 women over 30 years finds coffee drinking linked to healthy aging, longevity: It seems to offer 'protective benefits'
Coffee, and whether or not it's good for you, has been a research focus for decades. A regular cup or two has been linked to better heart health, a longer life, and most recently, a study led by a Harvard researcher, Dr. Sara Mahdavi found that drinking coffee may even aid healthy aging in women. "The findings suggest that caffeinated coffee—not tea or decaf—may uniquely support aging trajectories that preserve both mental and physical function," said Mahdavi, a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The paper, which was presented at the American Society of Nutrition's annual meeting, has not yet been published or peer-reviewed. But the findings are robust. Researchers followed 47,513 women over the course of decades, starting in 1984, and analyzed their health data and coffee-drinking habits. By 2016, only 3,706 participants were considered healthy agers. Factors that the researchers considered to define healthy aging were: The researchers considered additional lifestyle factors like smoking, exercise frequency and diet, and adjusted for their contribution to health outcomes. Participants were also asked to share how often they drank coffee, tea and either Coca-Cola or Pepsi, which can all be sources of caffeine. Women who had at least one cup of coffee daily were more likely to be among the healthy agers, the study found. Of the healthy agers, each extra cup of coffee they had each day was associated with a 2% to 5% increased chance of aging well, peaking at about five small cups a day. Drinking tea or decaffeinated coffee didn't have a clear connection to healthy aging in the study, and drinking cola drastically lowered chances of positive health outcomes. How much coffee per day leads to healthy aging is debatable. Mahdavi says drinking up to seven small cups of coffee daily was associated with healthy aging in the study, but whether or not that amount is healthy can shift depending on the person. Other recent studies have pointed to the potential health benefits of drinking coffee. A recent study of nearly 50,000 U.S. adults published this May found that having one to three cups of coffee a day could lower a person's chances of dying by around 15% within the following nine to 11 years, in comparison to those who didn't consume the drink. "Moderate coffee intake may offer some protective benefits when combined with other healthy behaviors such as regular exercise, a healthy diet and avoiding smoking," Mahdavi said in a press release. "While this study adds to prior evidence suggesting coffee intake may be linked with healthy aging, the benefits from coffee are relatively modest compared to the impact of overall healthy lifestyle habits and warrant further investigation."
The Star
10-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
Coffee helps with healthy ageing, but cola could be a problem: Study
Coffee, already proven to be a barrier against cognitive decline, is now believed to also help women age more healthily, according to new research. — Photo: Bernd Diekjobst/dpa Drinking coffee could help women age more healthily, while cola could do the opposite, according to researchers from Harvard University, Tufts University and the University of Toronto. A team of scientists speaking at the May 31 – June 3 Nutrition 2025 conference in Orlando say they found indications that "regular coffee intake in midlife were modestly and favourably associated with healthy ageing." Not all caffeinated drinks have that same positive effect, however. "Drinking more cola was tied to a significantly lower chance of healthy ageing," the team warned, after studying caffeine intake almost 50,000 women over 30 years. A morning coffee not only kickstarts a day, it can "help women stay sharp, strong and mentally well as they age," the researchers said, adding that they "didn't find any links with tea or decaf." Coffee "may uniquely support ageing trajectories that preserve both mental and physical function," said Sara Mahdavi of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the University of Toronto, who at the same time cautioned that "the benefits from coffee are relatively modest compared to the impact of overall healthy lifestyle habits." Caffeine intake was assessed using "validated food frequency questionnaires" takeing in coffee, tea, cola and decaf, the team explained, adding that the findings were "adjusted for age, BMI [body mass index], smoking, alcohol, physical activity, education, and dietary protein." The findings follow the publication in 2023 and 2024 of research showing espresso to be a potential barrier against cognitive decline and moderate coffee intake as possibly reducing the likelihood of stroke and diabetes.
