The effects of coffee are related to how it is brewed.

Drinking black coffee with minimal added sugar and milk offers certain health benefits. (Illustrative image created by AI)

Coffee not only helps you stay alert but is also linked to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and mortality. However, scientists warn that the brewing method can determine whether or not you reap those benefits.

According to research, people who drink 1-2 cups of coffee a day have a 14% lower risk of death compared to those who don't drink coffee. However, this is only true for black coffee or coffee with few additives such as cream, milk, or sweeteners.

Dr. Fang Fang Zhang (Tufts University, USA) stated: "If we add more sugar or saturated fat, the calorie count increases, and that can lead to adverse health effects."

The study, published in the journal Nutrition in May, tracked more than 46,000 U.S. adults for about 10 years to investigate the link between coffee drinking habits and mortality risk.

Participants completed a 24-hour dietary survey. From this, the research team estimated the average coffee intake and recorded the use of additives containing sugar or saturated fat.

The results showed that drinking one cup of coffee a day reduced the risk of death from all causes by 16%. Drinking 2-3 cups reduced this risk by about 17%. Coffee drinkers also had a 29-33% lower risk of dying from heart disease.

When considering additives, the study noted that people who drank black coffee or coffee with less sugar and saturated fat had a 14% lower risk of death compared to those who did not drink coffee.

"Low sugar" and "low saturated fat" are defined as less than 5% of the recommended daily value. For a 240ml cup, this is equivalent to 2.5g of sugar (about 1/3 teaspoon) or 1g of fat.

Dr. Zhang believes that the data is sufficient to suggest a cause-and-effect relationship, but the study still has a point to note: the limited sample size makes it difficult to confirm the results are true for all racial groups.

Most participants drank black coffee, and the number of those who added additives was not large enough; coffee drinking habits were only surveyed once or twice and may change over time…

Coffee contains over 100 compounds, including polyphenols—antioxidants that help reduce inflammation and eliminate free radicals. Adding sugar or saturated fat doesn't destroy polyphenols but is associated with poorer cardiovascular health and a higher risk of death.

This is one of the first studies on the effects of additives on mortality risk, so there is not enough evidence to make definitive recommendations.

However, experts agree that sugar and saturated fat should be limited. If you like to add a little cream and sugar, there's no need to worry too much. "Black coffee may be better, but you're not increasing your risk just because you add a little milk and sugar," says expert Marilyn Cornelis.

Additionally, moderation is important, as the benefits diminish after about two cups per day, and drinking too much can cause anxiety, irregular heartbeat, or high blood pressure.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tac-dung-cua-ca-phe-lien-quan-den-cach-pha-che-324453.html