Scientists completely agree coffee drinking helps longevity.
During these days of generally bad news (people getting shot, the Monarch butterfly population in steep decline) it is heartening to read the findings from a huge study (over 170,000 men and women with average age 55 tracked over seven years) whose “all cause death rate” was dramatically lower among the coffee drinkers than among those who did not drink coffee. The “best amount” to drink was 1.5 to 3.5 cups a day, and interestingly, with or without sugar or artificial sweeteners.
Although you might not think of coffee as a health beverage, during the past few years, other studies have shown coffee has been helpful for:
- Reducing your risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Type 2 Diabetes, congestive heart failure, and even colon cancer.
- Improving the detoxification pathways of your liver and strengthening your DNA (these may account for the cancer protective aspects of coffee).
- Helping fight depression.
- Increasing your metabolic and therefore useful in weight management.
On the other hand, that saltshaker on your dining room table will subtract a couple of years OFF your life.
This was the conclusion of another “mega-study” (over 500,000 Europeans) surveying those who sprinkled more salt on food after it was served versus those who left their meals well enough alone.
It’s mainly patients with heart disease, high blood pressure and/or visible fluid retention (swollen feet and ankles) who are advised to “cut back on the salt”.
Unfortunately, I can tell you that few people follow this advice. The problem with salt (sodium chloride) is that it causes fluid retention, swells up your arteries, stresses your heart, and raises your blood pressure. Food prepared at home or in restaurants is often already oversalted although on the plus side, these days I’m not seeing saltshakers at restaurants, maybe a COVID phenomenon.
But adding more salt, i.e. your saltshaker, places you at a risk for premature death which the authors define as dying before age 75.
Lastly, have you ever wondered which is more important, a healthful diet or regular exercise? The answer...
