How Coffee Might Help Your Cells Stay a Little Younger

Coffee Cure: Most of us don’t need a scientific reason to pour that first cup of coffee in the morning, yet a new study published in BMJ Mental Health was intriguing enough to grab our attention. Researchers studying people with serious mental illness found that moderate coffee drinking might slow certain markers of biological aging in this group.

The Study: Scientists at King’s College London looked at coffee intake and compared it with the length of participants’ telomeres, the small caps on our DNA that shorten as we age. Those who drank three to four cups a day had slightly longer telomeres, which can be a sign of a younger biological age. Researchers believe coffee’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may play a role. 

The Takeaway: Overall, the results suggest that those who consume three or four cups of coffee may have longer telomeres than non-coffee drinkers, which is comparable to about five years younger in biological age. 

Keep In Mind: The study also found that drinking more than that amount showed no benefit and may even cause cellular damage. No wonder the FDA recommends keeping caffeine intake at or below 400 mg per day, which is about four regular cups.