(NEXSTAR) – A new study presented at the American Society for Nutrition Monday suggests that an eye-opening cup of java may also have long-term health benefits for women.

“Our study has several key strengths,” said Dr. Sara Mahdavi, lead researcher and an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto, in a press release. “In addition to the large sample size and 30 years of follow-up, we assessed several different aspects of longevity and healthy aging as well as very comprehensive information on nutritional and lifestyle habits that were collected every four years after the initiation of the study.”

The study followed 47,513 women using dietary and health data from the Nurses’ Health Study dating back to 1984.

While not yet peer-reviewed or published, the supporting data is extensive, experts say, and its conclusion lines up with several other studies that have found coffee to have beneficial effects.

“The data is quite consistent that coffee consumption is actually beneficial,” a Tufts University professor not affiliated with the study told The New York Times.

What were the findings?

The study looked at the frequency with which the participants drank coffee, tea, cola or decaffeinated coffee, while accounting for other factors that could influence health aging, such as body weight, smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, education level and protein consumption.

Every four years, researchers collected follow-up information on the participants’ nutritional and lifestyle habits, including regular caffeine consumption.

After three decades, there were 3,706 women who met the definition of a health ager: “living to age 70 or older, being free from 11 major chronic diseases, maintaining physical function, having good mental health, exhibiting no cognitive impairment and showing no memory complaints.”

In mid-life, those same woman consumed, on average, 315 mg of caffeine per day, or about one and a half large cups of coffee. The vast majority of that caffeine intake came from regular coffee, according to the study.

“For women in the healthy agers group, each extra cup of coffee per day was tied to a 2% to 5% higher chance of doing well later in life, up to five small cups per day, or about 2.5 cups according to today’s measures,” the news release stated.

Alternatively, researchers found no link between healthy aging and decaffeinated coffee or tea.

“The health benefits apppeared specific to coffee, rather than caffeine more broadly,” Mahdavi told Fox News Digital. “We didn’t see the same associations with decaf coffee, tea or caffeinated soda, suggesting that coffee’s unique combination of bioactive compounds may play a key role.”

Caffeinated soda, the study found, lowered participants’ chances of healthy aging by 20% to 26%.

“These results, while preliminary, suggest that small, consistent habits can shape long-term health,” said Dr. Mahdavi. “Moderate coffee intake may offer some protective benefits when combined with other healthy behaviors such as regular exercise, a healthy diet and avoiding smoking. While this study adds to prior evidence suggesting coffee intake may be linked with healthy aging, the benefits from coffee are relatively modest compared to the impact of overall healthy lifestyle habits and warrant further investigation.”

Limitations of the study

Despite the generous sample size, Mahdavi noted that the study mostly examined the health and habits of white, educated female health professionals.

“Further work is needed to confirm generalizability to broader populations,” she told Fox News Digital, adding that, while the results are positive for coffee drinkers, the study doesn’t show a direct causal relationship between the beverage and long-term health.

In other words, there’s no guarantee that starting a coffee habit will lead to a healthier aging process, but the study suggests that coffee drinkers don’t necessarily need to cut back on the beverage in an attempt to maintain their health as they get older, Dr. David Kao, professor of medicine at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical School told CNN.

For those people who aren’t already coffee drinkers, or abstain from caffeine, Mahdavi said her team does not recommend taking up the habit.

People with medical concerns including high blood pressure, sleep issues or anxiety, should speak with a healthcare provider before drinking coffee, as it may not be advisable.

“While past studies have linked coffee to individual health outcomes, our study is the first to assess coffee’s impact across multiple domains of aging over three decades,” said Sara Mahdavi, a clinician scientist, licensed nutritionist dietitian and post-doctoral fellow at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health at Harvard University.

Mahdavi presented the findings of the study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed or published, at the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition (ASN), held in Orlando from May 31 to June 3, according to an ASN release published by EurekAlert.

Here’s what you should know about the benefits of drinking coffee.

What did the study find?

“The findings suggest that caffeinated coffee − not tea or decaf − may uniquely support aging trajectories that preserve both mental and physical function,” Mahdavi, who is also an adjunct professor at University of Toronto, said in a statement.

The study included 47,513 women, and used dietary and health data that had been collected since 1984, according to the press release.

“Our study has several key strengths,” said Mahdavi. “In addition to the large sample size and 30 years of follow-up, we assessed several different aspects of longevity and healthy aging as well as very comprehensive information on nutritional and lifestyle habits that were collected every four years after the initiation of the study.”

How does drinking coffee every day benefit women?

Of the nearly 50,000 women who started the study in 1984, 3,706 were considered “healthy agers” in 2016, according to the release, which noted that the criteria of being a “healthy ager” included the following:

Living to age 70 or older

Being free from 11 major chronic diseases

Maintaining physical function

Having good mental health

Exhibiting no cognitive impairment

Showing no memory complaints

How much caffeine did the participants drink?

Between the ages of 45 and 60, the women deemed “healthy agers” consumed around 315 mg of caffeine each day, which is equal to roughly three small cups of coffee or one-and-a-half large cups, according to the release.

“More than 80% of that caffeine came from regular coffee consumption,” the release continued.

Soda consumption associated with ‘lower likelihood of healthy aging’

While caffeinated coffee was associated with health benefits, another source of caffeine was not.

Soda consumption was associated with a lower likelihood of healthy aging, “reinforcing that not all sources of caffeine confer benefits,” the release states.

Tea and decaf coffee were also studied, but were not associated with the same health benefits as caffeinated coffee, according to the press release.

Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her on LinkedIn,X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com

Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.

Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways

The daily ritual of imbibing a hot cup of freshly brewed and fragrant coffee isn’t just good for the soul – it may be one of the ways to smooth the road to healthy aging for women.

In a study of 47,513 women in the US with data spanning 30 years, scientists have found that long-term moderate coffee consumption in mid-life is positively correlated with the markers of healthy aging.

“While past studies have linked coffee to individual health outcomes, our study is the first to assess coffee’s impact across multiple domains of aging over three decades,” says Sara Mahdavi, nutrition scientist at Harvard University and the University of Toronto.

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“The findings suggest that caffeinated coffee – not tea or decaf – may uniquely support aging trajectories that preserve both mental and physical function.”

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To assess the long-term impact of a daily cuppa (or two) on aging, Mahdavi and her colleagues made a careful study of data collected as part of the Nurses’ Health Study, a series of epidemiological studies that examine the long-term impacts of various factors on the health of nurses in the US.

They examined health and dietary intake data collected since 1984, all the way up to 2016. Healthy aging was defined as living to 70 years or older, maintaining good physical function, staying free from 11 major chronic diseases, and with no cognitive, mental health, or memory impairment.

The researchers also adjusted for other factors that might influence health, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, level of physical activity, and body-mass index.

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By 2016, the researchers identified 3,706 women who qualified as healthy agers. For this group, around 80 percent of their average daily caffeine intake came in the form of three small cups’ worth of coffee.

By contrast, tea and decaffeinated coffee were not associated with any of the markers of healthy aging; and cola intake was associated with a negative impact for the markers of healthy aging. In other words, coffee had a positive effect; tea and decaf were neutral; and cola had a negative effect.

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For the healthy agers, each additional cup of coffee, up to five small cups a day, boosted the odds of healthy aging by between 2 and 5 percent. For the cola drinkers, each cup per day reduced the odds of healthy aging by 20 to 26 percent.

Of course, coffee isn’t a magic bullet for your health; you should still look after yourself in other ways, Mahdavi says.

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“These results, while preliminary, suggest that small, consistent habits can shape long-term health. Moderate coffee intake may offer some protective benefits when combined with other healthy behaviors such as regular exercise, a healthy diet, and avoiding smoking,” she explains.

“While this study adds to prior evidence suggesting coffee intake may be linked with healthy aging, the benefits from coffee are relatively modest compared to the impact of overall healthy lifestyle habits and warrant further investigation.”

The research has been presented at the NUTRITION 2025 conference in Orlando, Florida.

Related News

A steaming cup of coffee might hold more than just a morning boost. For many women, that daily ritual could play a role in staying sharp and active later in life. A new long-term study tracking nearly 50,000 women for three decades suggests that caffeinated coffee may help support healthy aging.

Researchers found that women who regularly drank coffee during middle age were more likely to reach their 70s free from major diseases and mental decline. The results, presented by Dr. Sara Mahdavi at NUTRITION 2025 in Orlando, build on earlier studies showing links between coffee and better heart and brain health. But this new work is different—it looked at aging across multiple areas over 30 years.

Coffee and Aging: A Strong Link Emerges

The women in this study were part of the well-known Nurses’ Health Study, one of the largest and longest health studies ever conducted. Since 1984, over 47,000 participants aged 45–60 provided detailed reports on their diets and health every four years. Researchers used this information to study how caffeine intake affected long-term health.

Researchers found that women who regularly drank coffee during middle age were more likely to reach their 70s free from major diseases and mental decline. (CREDIT: CC BY-SA 4.0)

By 2016, about 3,700 women had reached at least age 70 with no signs of major chronic disease, cognitive decline, or physical disability. These women were considered “healthy agers.” Most had consumed about 315 mg of caffeine daily in midlife—roughly the amount in three small cups of coffee. Over 80% of that caffeine came from regular coffee.

For every extra cup of coffee consumed per day, the odds of healthy aging rose by 2% to 5%, up to five cups daily. These benefits, however, didn’t apply to tea or decaffeinated coffee. And drinks like cola actually had the opposite effect. Each extra glass of soda was tied to a 20% to 26% lower chance of healthy aging.

“While past studies have linked coffee to individual health outcomes, our study is the first to assess coffee’s impact across multiple domains of aging over three decades,” said Dr. Mahdavi, a postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and adjunct professor at the University of Toronto.

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Why Coffee Stands Out

The research team used validated food frequency questionnaires to estimate how much caffeine the women consumed. They included all major sources: coffee, tea, cola, and decaf. They then measured how caffeine levels affected the likelihood of aging well while adjusting for other factors such as smoking, alcohol use, body weight, exercise habits, protein intake, and education.

Interestingly, only caffeinated coffee showed a link to healthy aging. This suggests the health effects may come from compounds unique to coffee—not just the caffeine. Tea and decaf coffee didn’t offer the same benefits.

“This would imply that coffee in particular has health preserving or promoting effects,” said Dr. David Kao, a heart disease expert at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical School, who was not involved in the research. “They also appear to have found that coffee has a particular benefit over other caffeinated drinks.”

Dr. Sara Mahdavi, BSc, HBSc, RD, MSc, PhD, a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, and an adjunct professor at University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine. (CREDIT: Robert McGee)

But it’s not just about one ingredient. Coffee contains hundreds of biologically active compounds. These may work together to support cellular health, reduce inflammation, and improve metabolic function—factors that all influence how well someone ages.

The Fine Print: Not All Coffee Drinkers Benefit Equally

Even though the findings are promising, they come with a few cautions. First, this is an observational study. It shows a pattern but can’t prove cause and effect. While the researchers adjusted for many other variables, there may still be unknown factors linking coffee to health outcomes.

Dr. Mahdavi explained that individual biology matters too. “Coffee may support longevity, but it’s not a universal prescription—especially for women. Hormonal shifts influence how caffeine is metabolized, so the benefits depend on timing, biology, and individual health.”

For instance, estrogen blocks a liver enzyme needed to break down caffeine. This means that caffeine can linger longer in the body of someone going through menopause, pregnancy, or taking oral birth control.

Major metabolic pathways and chemical structures of caffeine metabolites. (CREDIT: European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry Reports)

In fact, Dr. Mahdavi and her colleagues have shown in other research that genetics can affect how the body handles caffeine. People with lower caffeine tolerance or specific genetic profiles might not benefit from more coffee. For them, drinking too much could even be harmful.

That’s why she recommends moderation. “Moderate caffeinated coffee consumption—typically one to three cups per day—can be part of a healthy diet for many adults,” she said. “However, this should not be taken as a blanket recommendation for everyone to begin or increase coffee intake with the goal of longevity.”

Dr. Kao agrees. “Although women who drink 3 cups of coffee/day might have better long-term functioning than non-coffee drinkers, we don’t know if non-coffee drinkers started drinking 3 cups a day, whether they would have better functioning than if they remained non-coffee drinkers,” he said.

Coffee Is Just One Piece of the Puzzle

While coffee might help, it’s not a shortcut to good health. It won’t replace the value of exercise, good sleep, or a nutritious diet. “Moderate coffee intake may offer some protective benefits when combined with other healthy behaviors such as regular exercise, a healthy diet and avoiding smoking,” Mahdavi said.

Some people do need to be careful. High caffeine intake can worsen high blood pressure, heart conditions, anxiety, or sleep problems. Dr. Lu Qi from Tulane University, who was not involved in this study, warns that caffeine should be limited in people with these conditions.

His own research found that morning coffee may be better than coffee later in the day for reducing death rates. This could be linked to how caffeine affects sleep, blood pressure, or metabolism over the course of the day.

Even for those who enjoy coffee and tolerate it well, the benefits appear modest. But they’re real—and they add to a growing body of research showing how small daily choices can shape long-term health.

What’s Next for Coffee and Longevity Research?

Scientists now want to dig deeper. Future studies will explore how specific compounds in coffee affect genes and molecules linked to aging. These studies may lead to personalized diet plans to help people age well based on their biology.

“Understanding these mechanisms could guide personalized medicine approaches to develop diets that support longevity and cognitive health for individuals,” said Mahdavi.

Until then, the takeaway is simple. That regular morning cup might be doing more than waking you up. For many women, it could also be helping them age with strength, clarity, and grace.

Note: The article above provided above by The Brighter Side of News.

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