If you lead a sedentary lifestyle, drinking coffee may offer some protection against mortality risks, according to research published in the journal BioMed Central (BMC) Public Health.
Non-coffee drinkers who sit for six or more hours a day are reportedly 58% more likely to die from all causes compared to coffee drinkers, as per findings by researchers at the Medical College of Soochow University’s School of Public Health in China. They also observed that sedentary coffee drinkers had a 24% lower risk of mortality compared to non-coffee drinkers who sit for at least six hours daily.
The study tracked over 10,000 adults in the US for up to 13 years, with results calculated at the request of The Washington Post. "The benefits of coffee consumption in improving overall survival in adults compared to sedentary behaviour are manifold," noted the study's authors. Coffee consumption appears to reduce the risk of metabolic issues that exacerbate inflammation, which in turn increases mortality risk due to sedentary lifestyles.
Additionally, the study found that participants who consumed the highest amounts of coffee had a 33% lower risk of death from any cause compared to non-coffee drinkers. These findings align with previous research linking higher coffee intake with lower risks of mortality and heart disease.
The anti-inflammatory properties of coffee compounds such as caffeine and polyphenols are believed to play a role in these protective effects. However, the exact mechanisms by which coffee reduces mortality risk remain unclear, according to the researchers.
Moreover, the study highlighted that sitting for more than eight hours a day was associated with over a 40% higher risk of death from any cause and nearly 80% higher risk of death specifically due to heart disease.
