More surprising benefits of a few cups of coffee a day

Many people cannot live without a few cups of coffee every day. This delicious drink is not only refreshing but also brings countless health benefits.

Now, new research published in the scientific journal BMJ Mental Health has discovered even more surprising benefits of coffee, according to the medical news site News Medical.

Telomeres and aging

Telomeres are the tips of chromosomes. As we age, telomeres naturally shorten. This shortening is especially accelerated in people with psychiatric disorders. Telomeres are sensitive to environmental factors, including diet and caffeine.

Drinking up to three to four cups of coffee a day may slow the "biological" aging process of people with serious mental problems.

Scientists from Oslo University Hospital and Diakonhjemmet Hospital (Norway), in collaboration with experts at King's College London and Newcastle University (UK), used data from 436 participants. Of these, 259 had schizophrenia, 177 had mood disorders such as depression.

Depending on the amount of coffee they drank each day, the participants were divided into four groups: no coffee, 1-2 cups, 3-4 cups, and 5 or more cups per day. They were also asked about their smoking habits.

What did the study find?

The results found that drinking up to 3-4 cups of coffee a day can slow down the "biological" aging process of people with serious mental problems. Specifically, they have longer telomeres - equivalent to being 5 years younger than those who do not drink coffee, according to News Medical.

However, drinking up to 5 cups a day no longer has any effect.

Researchers explain that the reason coffee works this miracle is thanks to the powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds in coffee.

Telomeres are sensitive to oxidative stress and inflammation, which promote aging, and coffee helps protect cells from both of these factors, they said.

However, the researchers also warned: Consuming more than the recommended daily amount of coffee - about 3 cups - can also cause cell damage and shorten telomeres. At the same time, they also emphasized the recommendation to limit the maximum caffeine intake to 400 mg/day (equivalent to 4 cups of coffee).

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/lai-them-tac-dung-dang-ngac-nhien-cua-vai-cu-ca-phe-moi-ngay-185251129120955323.htm