Why three and a half cups of coffee could be best |
Getting a coffee habit might be one of the healthiest choices you can make. A major new review analyzed decades of research on millions of people and found that drinking 3 to 5 cups of coffee daily correlates with living longer and dodging multiple diseases. However, what you add to that cup also matters.
The sweet spot appears very specific, with three and a half cups daily showing the lowest mortality risk. The benefits decline above five cups. Both regular and decaffeinated deliver similar protection, reducing cardiovascular disease risk by 15% and cognitive decline risk by 25%. Even instant coffee counts.
"For optimum results: consult your doctor and consult your body," advised review author Farin Kamangar, MD, PhD, emphasizing that coffee’s effects vary greatly with the individual.
Coffee also enhances exercise performance through increased fat burning and appears to lower depression risk — unless you add sugar. One study found that sweetened coffee actually increased depression risk, while cream showed no negative effects.
To discover why timing and sweeteners matter, and what pregnant women need to know about caffeine limits, jump to “3-5 cups of coffee a day linked to longer life, lower diabetes risk.”
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