Global Coffee Consumption and Health Benefits

2.25 billion cups of coffee are consumed globally every day. Coffee has a myriad of health benefits, the overwhelming majority of which are not known to the lay public and even physicians. There has been a plethora of research published in peer-reviewed scientific journals attesting to the health benefits of coffee. They include mechanistic explanations and often a dose-dependent benefit.

Coffee drinkers have a lower risk of seven common cancers, cirrhosis of the liver, type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's Disease, and many other common ailments. Astoundingly, coffee drinkers, both women and men, have lower total and cause-specific mortality.

Telomeres and Cellular Aging

Telomeres are caps at the end of our chromosomes that protect the chromosomes from sticking to each other and from fraying. Shortened telomere length implies accelerated cellular aging and is seen in mothers of chronically disabled children and caregivers of folks with Alzheimer's Dementia. Longer telomere length is observed in individuals who exercise, meditate, follow the Mediterranean diet, and those who drink coffee.

Interesting Facts about Coffee and Caffeine

Here is a mind-boggling fact: increased caffeine intake is linked with shortened telomeres, while increased coffee intake is linked with longer telomeres. Coffee has thousands of constituents, and it is not caffeine that confers the health benefits.