Love Your Coffee Sweet or Unsweetened? Health Benefits Await Both!

Coffee lovers around the world have pondered the health implications of their favorite beverage – unsweetened or with added sugars and sweeteners. Previously, studies have shown that coffee consumption is linked to a lower risk of death, but they did not differentiate between unsweetened coffee and coffee with added sugar or artificial sweeteners. A recent large-scale study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine has addressed this question, revealing that habitual coffee consumption – even sweetened coffee or decaffeinated coffee – reduces all-cause mortality.

The study, led by researchers at Southern Medical University in Guangzhou, China, analyzed the responses of over 171,000 individuals from the United Kingdom who were free of heart disease and cancer. Participants were asked about their dietary and health habits, including their coffee-drinking preferences. After nearly seven years of observation, researchers found that regular coffee drinkers – both those who drank sweetened and unsweetened coffee – had a 30 percent lower risk of death compared to non-coffee drinkers.

Sweet or Unsweetened: The Health Benefits Persist

The study revealed that participants who consumed any amount of unsweetened coffee over the observation period had a 16 to 21 percent lower likelihood of dying than those who did not drink coffee. Moreover, participants who drank 1.5 to 3.5 cups of coffee with added sugar (approximately one teaspoon per cup) daily had a 29 to 31 percent lower risk of death than non-coffee drinkers. However, the findings regarding coffee drinkers who added artificial sweeteners were inconclusive.

A Healthy Habit: 2 to 4 Cups of Coffee Daily

The study's authors suggest that consuming two to four cups of coffee per day could be a healthy habit for most individuals. Nevertheless, pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as those with specific health concerns, should continue to exercise caution when it comes to coffee consumption.

In conclusion, this new research sheds light on the health benefits of coffee, regardless of whether it is sweetened or unsweetened. So, go ahead and enjoy that cup of joe – your body may thank you for it.