Recent research suggests that daily consumption of a cup of tea or coffee may potentially enhance the body’s resilience in old age. The study, conducted by a team from the National University of Singapore, found that individuals who consumed coffee and tea during their middle age (between 40 and 60 years) may experience a reduced likelihood of physical weakness in their later years, primarily attributed to the presence of caffeine in these beverages. Notably, those who consumed four cups of coffee a day appeared to derive the most significant benefits, and individuals who enjoyed black or green tea also reported positive outcomes.
The research involved a 20-year follow-up of 12,000 individuals aged between 45 and 74 years. Professor Koh Woon Puay, from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine’s Healthy Longevity Translational Research Program, explained that “Coffee and tea are primary beverage choices in many regions, including Singapore and various parts of the world. Our research indicates that consuming these beverages during midlife may potentially reduce the likelihood of physical weakness in the later years of life.”
However, Professor Koh Woon Puay also emphasized the need for further research to validate these findings and investigate whether caffeine or other chemical compounds are responsible for the impact on physical weakness. The study involved interviews with individuals of an average age of 53, gathering information on their consumption of caffeine-containing drinks like coffee, tea, cold beverages, and items such as chocolate. The participants, whose average age was 73, were assessed for strength through handgrip power and Timed Up and Go (TUG) tests, and their weight and energy levels were also considered.
Among the 12,000 participants, over three-quarters (68.5%) consumed coffee daily. In this group, 52.9% had one cup of coffee daily, 42.2% consumed two to three cups daily, and the rest consumed four or more cups daily. Tea drinkers were categorized based on their tea consumption habits, which included those who never drank tea, those who consumed it at least once a month, those who had it at least once a week, and those who consumed tea daily.
The study’s results indicated that consuming coffee, black tea, or green tea during middle age was associated with a reduced likelihood of physical weakness in later years, especially for those who consumed four or more cups of coffee daily. Individuals who consumed black or green tea daily also had a significantly lower likelihood of physical weakness compared to those who did not drink tea.
A separate study published in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association found that higher caffeine consumption, regardless of the source, was linked to a decreased likelihood of physical weakness. Researchers stressed the need for further investigations to validate the findings and explore the potential effects of caffeine and o
