Overview

• Researchers followed 47,513 female nurses from 1984 to 2016 and defined healthy aging as reaching age 70 without major chronic diseases and with preserved physical and cognitive function.
• Each additional small cup of caffeinated coffee up to five per day was associated with a 2–5% higher chance of meeting healthy aging criteria.
• No links to healthy aging emerged for decaffeinated coffee or tea, while daily caffeinated soda intake corresponded to a 20–26% drop in healthy aging odds.
• Adding more than 2 grams of sugar or 1 gram of saturated fat per cup negated the protective association of coffee consumption.
• Investigators caution that coffee’s benefits are modest and should complement overall healthy habits such as regular exercise, balanced nutrition and smoking avoidance.