Drinking a cup of coffee a day could be the secret to long life

LONDON - Researchers have claimed that drinking a cup of coffee everyday could be the secret to long life.

According to a study, people who drank one to two cups of coffee a day had more elastic arteries than those who drank little or no coffee, reports the Daily Mail.

The subjects of the research were all aged between 65 and 100 and long-term inhabitants of the Greek island of Ikaria. It is known as the ‘land of longevity’ and a third of residents reach the age of 90.

University of Athens researchers looked at 485 people with high blood pressure, medically known as hypertension.

Christina Chrysohoou, who led the study, said there was conflicting evidence about the effect of coffee drinking on heart health, with some research showing it aggravated high blood pressure.

But drinking coffee is a deeply embedded social tradition in Greek culture, which made it imperative to investigate on this island of ‘high life-expectancy’, she said.

The 56 percent who were moderate coffee drinkers, consuming between one and two cups a day, had the best arterial health, with their blood vessels behaving like those found in younger people.

Their arteries were more elastic than those measured in people who drank little or no coffee.

Around one in 10 who drank three or more cups a day had the least elasticity. Dr Chrysohoou said moderate coffee drinkers consumed 25-50ml of coffee a day.

She suggested that ingredients such as caffeine and antioxidants may partly improve arterial function by increasing the ability to take up nitric oxide, which is impaired in hypertensive patients.

“They were socialising, with friends in cafeterias or with family at home, relaxing and discussing daily matters. It’s done in good spirit, which is psychologically important,’ she added.

The findings were released at the European Society of Cardiology congress. (ANI)