Consuming coffee might reduce mortality risk linked to inactivity
Making daily movement a part of your routine is crucial to a healthy lifestyle. The American Heart Association suggests adults engage in at least 150 minutes of heart-pumping physical exercise each week for overall well-being.
Research from the past reveals that inactivity can hurt one’s health, contributing to an increased likelihood of conditions like obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, and heart disease.
Prolonged inactivity has also been associated with a greater risk of death from all causes, including cardiovascular illnesses.
Recently, a study published in the journal BMC Public Health explored how coffee might mitigate some of the detriments of living a sedentary life.
Researchers from Soochow University in Suzhou, China, found that individuals who sat for more than eight hours per day had a higher risk of death from all causes and cardiovascular disease, compared to those sitting for fewer than four hours daily. Yet, the frequent coffee drinkers among the group appeared to have a lower risk of death compared to non-coffee drinkers.
Why care about coffee?
This study relied on data gathered from nearly 10,700 individuals who participated in the 2007–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, based in the U.S., examining their sitting time and coffee consumption habits.
“With the rise of technology and jobs leaning toward more desk-based tasks, people have become increasingly inactive,” said Bingyan Li, PhD, professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene at Soochow University, speaking to Medical News Today. “Even if people meet the recommended activity levels, prolonged periods of sitting can damage metabolic health.”
“Sedentary habits are emerging as key contributors to unwanted health outcomes. Such behaviors are strongly linked to increased cardiovascular risks and deaths from all causes. Alarmingly, these adverse health effects place a heavy financial strain on global healthcare systems,” Li explained.
“Meanwhile, coffee remains one of the most commonly consumed beverages worldwide. Especially in America, growing evidence suggests a consistent link between coffee consumption and lower rates of chronic diseases, a benefit that may be attributed to its powerful antioxidant properties,” she added. “Since coffee has even a modest influence on health, its impact on public well-being could be immense.”
Higher risks for those who avoid coffee
Li’s study concluded that sitting for more than eight hours a day correlates with increased death rates from all causes, including heart disease, compared to those sitting fewer than four hours per day.
When factoring in coffee consumption, those who drank the most coffee had a reduced risk of death from both general and heart-related causes compared to their non-coffee drinking counterparts.
Further analysis showed that individuals who didn’t drink coffee but sat for six or more hours daily were approximately 1.6 times more likely to die from all causes, compared to coffee drinkers who sat for less than six hours a day.
“Prolonged sitting appears to interfere with glucose regulation and heighten inflammation, based on previous research," Li noted. “Long durations of inactivity are particularly effective at spurring inflammatory processes. Additionally, sedentary behavior alters skeletal muscle metabolism, and for every added hour of sitting or rest, metabolic risks increase by 39%,” she explained.
Li wrapped up by noting, “Coffee’s potential to improve survival, when compared to sedentary behaviors, lies in its ability to reduce the risk of metabolic disorders. This inverse relationship between coffee consumption and mortality has consistently been shown in studies.”— Bingyan Li, PhD
A balanced lifestyle for heart health
After reviewing the findings, Dr. Yu-Ming Ni, a cardiologist at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute in California, advised interpreting the results cautiously.
“These results indicate a relationship between coffee and cardiovascular health, but they do not necessarily prove causation,” Ni clarified in a discussion with MNT. “The main takeaway is that while coffee drinkers might show reduced heart disease risk, other factors may also play a role, so the conclusions drawn should be careful and moderate.”
Ni emphasized that "Healthy lifestyle choices are critical. The American Heart Association published the Essential 8s, eight key behaviors and medical guidelines that promote optimal health. Unfortunately, too few people follow these principles. There's always room to study how behavioral changes and healthier habits — such as regular physical activity — can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. Coffee consumption has often been a part of this conversation."— Yu-Ming Ni, MD
Suggestions for incorporating coffee into your routine
Monique Richard, MS, RDN, LDN, a nutrition expert and owner of Nutrition-In-Sight, weighed in on this study as well.
Richard pointed out that many factors can affect whether one can obtain health benefits from beverages like coffee or tea.
“The origin of the coffee bean, how it’s produced, any additives — sugar, cream, or preservatives — and the overall consumption frequency play significant roles. It’s important that caffeine tolerance and individual health conditions, such as blood pressure or metabolic responses, are considered,” she explained. “Generally, three to five 8-ounce cups daily, containing around 400 milligrams of caffeine, are within recommended amounts, though personal tolerance can vary widely.”
Richard also discussed benefits beyond health, noting that caffeine in coffee could stimulate alertness and improve mood through its action on the central nervous system.
“Coffee might help boost mental clarity and sharpness,” she added. “However, downsides may include increased anxiety, jitteriness, raised lipid levels, gastrointestinal problems, or heart palpitations in some individuals.”
For those contemplating adding coffee to their routine for its potential benefits, Richard advised:
