Study Reveals How Coffee May Improve Longevity

New Delhi: Drinking a moderate amount of black coffee or coffee with minimal sweeteners may be linked to a lower risk of death, according to a new study from Tufts University. The research, published in The Journal of Nutrition, suggests that the health benefits of coffee consumption can vary significantly depending on how the beverage is prepared, particularly in terms of the levels of added sugar and saturated fat.

In this latest observational study, researchers examined how additives like sugar and cream may influence those benefits.

Using dietary recall data, the researchers analysed coffee habits and mortality outcomes among thousands of adults. They found that drinking 1 to 2 cups of caffeinated coffee per day—especially when consumed black or with low levels of added sugar and saturated fat—was associated with a 14% lower risk of death from all causes, including cardiovascular disease. However, this protective effect disappeared when participants regularly consumed coffee with high amounts of added sugar and saturated fat.

The researchers noted several limitations, including the reliance on self-reported food intake data, which can vary day to day and may introduce error. Additionally, the lack of significant findings for decaffeinated coffee may be due to its lower consumption rates within the study group.

Reference: Bingjie Zhou, Mengyuan Ruan, Yongyi Pan, Lu Wang, Fang Fang Zhang. Coffee Consumption and Mortality among United States Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study. The Journal of Nutrition, 2025; DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2025.05.004