Coffee, like red wine and chocolate, has long been viewed as both an indulgent treat and a healthy dietary addition. While some people veer away from caffeine, others embrace it, touting it as not only harmless but even beneficial. September 29th is National Coffee Day, so it’s a perfect time to learn about how coffee affects you as you age.
Many seniors find it difficult to make the necessary nutritional changes as they age, such as cutting back on fried foods, sugar and red meat. After switching from french fries to spinach and ice cream to bananas, the idea of giving up that morning cup of joe probably doesn’t sound too fun. With National Coffee Day right around the corner, you may be wondering if you can partake in the celebrations by maintaining your daily coffee routine, or if all that java is hurting your health.
Why you should keep brewing those beans
The good news is, there’s plenty of positive research surrounding senior caffeine consumption. According to AARP, there are a slew of healthy benefits that come with being a light-to-moderate coffee drinker. Here are a few:
- Drinking coffee helps lower your risk of developing certain oral cancers. Older adults who drink around four cups of coffee per day reduce their chances of developing fatal upper throat and mouth cancers. Notably, this same test was performed on tea and decaf coffee drinkers, and both beverages were discovered to have minimal to no benefits in this area.
- Coffee can also reduce your risk of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Authority Nutrition reported that people who drink between three and five cups of joe per day may cut their risk of developing dementia by up to 65 percent.
- AARP explained that drinking two to three cups of coffee can reduce the chances of someone committing suicide by 45 percent.
Side effects to keep in mind
Despite these clear benefits of consuming caffeinated coffee, there are certain risks involved in loving your lattes. Check out some of the negative aspects of coffee consumption in seniors.
- Because caffeine is a stimulant, it can disrupt sleep patterns in certain people, even if they consume their joe early in the day. If coffee is making you restless, consider switching to decaf.
- AARP noted that people with diabetes should be cautious with coffee, as it can raise blood sugar levels.
- Caffeine may react negatively with some medications, so check with your doctor before continuing with your daily java.
- Coffee can also be harsh on your stomach, so if you have a sensitive digestive system you may want to consider other drinks.
If you found an error, highlight it and press Shift + Enter or click here to inform us.
CHC