Coffee drinkers are a third less likely to die young – even if they add sugar, study finds

COFFEE drinkers live longer, according to a study. Scientists tracked 171,000 Brits and found those who enjoy a regular brew are up to a third less likely to die young. Java lovers even get the health benefits if they add sugar. Dr Dan Liu, from Southern Medical University in China, said: “Our study found that […]

COFFEE drinkers live longer, according to a study.

Scientists tracked 171,000 Brits and found those who enjoy a regular brew are up to a third less likely to die young.

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Coffee drinkers are a third less likely to die young – even if they add sugar, study finds[/caption]

Java lovers even get the health benefits if they add sugar.

Dr Dan Liu, from Southern Medical University in China, said: “Our study found that adults who drank moderate amounts of coffee sweetened with sugar every day were about 30 per cent less likely to die from any cause compared to non-coffee drinkers.”

Coffee connoisseurs faced less danger from cancer or heart disease in the study.

And instant, ground and decaf versions were all linked to a lower death risk.

The study tracked middle-aged people in the UK between 2009 and 2018 to see how likely they were to die within a seven-year period.

Any amount of unsweetened black coffee lowered the danger by between 16 and 21 per cent, researchers found.

Between 1.5 and 3.5 cups per day with a teaspoon of sugar each slashed the risk by 29 to 31 per cent.

Coffee is good for you because the beans are packed with antioxidants that help the body battle harmful cells and chemicals.

Past studies have found drinkers may have lower rates of type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and liver disease.

Dr Liu said this study, revealed in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, is the first to prove that even sugary coffee can be healthy.

But it warned the extra milk and sugars in takeaway drinks – or drinking more than 4.5 cups of sweetened coffee every day – might be a step too far and strip away the benefits.

Dr Christina Wee, deputy editor of the journal, added: “Coffee is believed to contribute to the body’s antioxidant effects through both caffeine and chlorogenic acids.

“For unsweetened coffee, those who had approximately three cups per day had the lowest risk.

“Among consumers of sugar-sweetened coffee, those having approximately two cups a day had the lowest risk.”

Dr Duane Mellor, a dietitian at Aston University, said: “This suggests that moderate coffee intake may be beneficial but it is important to remember what you might have with it – this study did not look to see if dunking a biscuit in your coffee was good or not, let alone having a slice of cake.”

A British Coffee Association spokesperson said: “Scientific evidence concludes that moderate coffee consumption of four to five cups per day can contribute to a healthy, balanced diet and may even confer a range of health benefits.”