Non-coffee drinkers at 60 percent more risk of dying, reveals study

Digital Desk: It might sound unbelievable, but the latest research suggests that people who don’t drink coffee and sit for more than six hours daily are at a 60 percent higher risk of dying than those who enjoy coffee and limit their sitting time to less than six hours. This revelation comes from a study recently published in the BioMed Central (BMC) Public Health journal, which sheds light on the unexpected health benefits of coffee about prolonged sitting.

The study analyzed data from over 10,000 adults in the United States over a period of up to 13 years. It found that individuals who drank coffee and sat for over six hours a day had lower mortality rates compared to their non-coffee-drinking counterparts. Sedentary behavior has long been associated with a host of health risks, including cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and increased mortality. However, the findings suggest that coffee consumption may play a role in mitigating the negative health impacts of a sedentary lifestyle.

Researchers at the School of Public Health at Soochow University's Medical College in China, who were involved in the study, discovered that coffee drinkers leading sedentary lifestyles had a 24 per cent lower risk of death compared to non-coffee drinkers who sat for more than six hours daily. Interestingly, this specific finding wasn’t initially highlighted in the study, reportedly at the request of The Washington Post.

The study’s author noted that coffee consumption significantly increased overall survival rates in adults, especially when combined with sedentary behaviour. This suggests that while sitting for long periods is detrimental to health, coffee may offer a protective effect. One of the key reasons for this could be coffee's ability to reduce the risk of metabolic issues, which are known to exacerbate inflammation and contribute to higher mortality risks associated with sedentary behaviour.

The research also revealed a striking 33 per cent reduction in overall mortality risk among the quarter of participants who consumed the highest amounts of coffee compared to those who did not drink coffee. These findings align with previous research, which has also indicated that higher coffee consumption is linked to lower mortality rates from all causes, including heart disease.

While it’s well-known that a sedentary lifestyle poses significant health risks, this study adds an intriguing layer to the conversation by suggesting that coffee consumption could counterbalance some of these risks. For those who spend much of their day sitting, a cup of coffee might do more than just keep them alert—it could potentially extend their life.