The damage caused by a sedentary lifestyle and physical inactivity could be countered by drinking two to three cups of coffee a day, according to a Chinese study.
- The effects of coffee could prevent damage associated with prolonged sitting at work.
- People who sit at their desks for at least six hours a day are 33 percent less likely to die prematurely if they drink two to three cups of coffee a day.
- Anti-inflammatories in coffee may reduce risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle.
Could coffee prevent the risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle and lack of activity? This is what a recent study from Soochow University (China) suggests. Sedentary and inactive people are particularly at risk of suffering from cardiovascular diseases, hypertension or obesity. Nearly “95% of the French adult population is exposed to a risk of deterioration in health due to lack of physical activity or too much time spent sitting”according to a study by the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES)published in 2022.
Sedentary lifestyle and mortality: lower risk for coffee drinkers
In this research published in the journal BMC Public Healthscientists analyzed lifestyle data from 10,000 American adults over a ten-year period. Participants were asked about the number of hours they spent sitting each day and their weekly coffee consumption.
Results: Employees who spent at least six hours a day sitting at their desks had a 33% lower risk of dying prematurely if they drank two to three cups of coffee a day compared to their colleagues who did not drink coffee.
The anti-inflammatory action of coffee would protect against the damage of a sedentary lifestyle
Given this observation, researchers have come up with a hypothesis: the powerful anti-inflammatory effects of coffee could offset the damage associated with a sedentary lifestyle. Indeed, physical inactivity can cause inflammation within the body’s organs and tissues, which slows down the basal metabolism, reduces the body’s ability to control blood sugar and blood pressure. “Coffee is rich in bioactive substances, and there is growing evidence that it can reduce mortality from chronic diseases thanks to its powerful properties”the study authors concluded.
