Khaberni - A medical study has shown that adding components like sugar or milk to coffee can significantly weaken the health benefits associated with its consumption, especially its relation to a decreased risk of early death.
The Journal of Nutrition reported that researchers arrived at these conclusions after an extensive analysis of dietary habits and mortality rates among adults in the United States.
The study relied on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2018, linking it to the National Death Index. The analysis included data from 46,222 adults, focusing on the impact of the type of coffee, whether caffeinated or decaffeinated, and the amount of added sugar and saturated fats, on the risk of death and cardiovascular diseases.
During a follow-up period ranging between 9 and11 years, more than 7000 death cases were recorded. The results showed that regular consumption of coffee was associated with a lower overall mortality rate, particularly when consuming two to three cups of plain coffee daily.
It was also noted that this benefit included black coffee and drinks with limited additions, not exceeding 2.5 grams of sugar and less than one gram of saturated fats per cup. On the contrary, adding larger amounts of sugar, milk, or cream weakened this association or completely nullified it.
The researchers concluded that coffee itself is not the only factor influencing the risk of early death; rather, the method of its consumption and accompanying additions play a crucial role in its health impact.
