New Research: Specific Consumption of Tea and Coffee Reduces the Risk of Certain Diseases

A recent study has shown that drinking a few cups of coffee or caffeinated tea daily can prevent diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and stroke. However, this is not the whole story. Scientists in this study, published in the scientific journal 'Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism', examined the consumption habits of 188,000 participants aged 37 to 73 using data from the UK Biobank. Chao Fu, an assistant professor at the School of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Soochow University in China and one of the authors of the study, told NBC: 'Caffeine consumption in different doses can have different health effects.' This professor added that 'drinking two to three cups of coffee or up to three cups of tea a day can be seen as the optimal point for caffeine consumption.' The research showed that individuals who consume about 200 to 300 milligrams of caffeine daily have a lower risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases. In contrast, those who drink less than 100 milligrams of caffeine per day are at higher risk. Coffee drinkers, in particular, have shown the least risk, indicating nearly a 50% reduction in the risk of cardiometabolic diseases. Meanwhile, individuals who obtain their caffeine from tea or a combination of both beverages are about 40% less likely to suffer from cardiometabolic diseases. However, Dr. Luke Laffin, director of the Blood Pressure Disorders Center at the Cleveland Clinic, who did not participate in this research, emphasized that these results should be interpreted in context. He said: 'This study can give us an idea, but we cannot draw definitive conclusions. Moderation is probably the best approach.' Other studies have also shown a link between excessive caffeine consumption and an increased risk of dementia and stroke, but at the same time, positive connections between caffeine and kidney health, type 2 diabetes, and heart failure have also been observed. Dr. Steven Kopecky, a heart disease prevention specialist at the Mayo Clinic, explains that besides an individual's underlying health issues, the way caffeine is consumed likely makes a significant difference in how it affects health. Kopecky warns that these results should not lead to excessive caffeine consumption. Furthermore, the importance of this study lies in the fact that it only includes individuals who regularly drink coffee or green or black tea, and these beverages contain hundreds or thousands of chemical compounds, of which caffeine is just one. Kopecky also stated: 'If you go to a coffee shop and order a coffee with cream and syrup, this drink not only does not benefit you but due to its high calories and sugar, it can lead to cardiometabolic diseases.'