Caffeine has a bad reputation, and while too much caffeine isn’t a good thing, plenty of research has found that a moderate amount can offer real benefits. In honor of Caffeine Awareness Month, live-in caregivers in Jefferson County share these five health benefits of caffeine.
1. Increased Brainpower
According to an Austrian study, drinking a single cup of caffeinated coffee can boost brainpower for around 45 minutes. A cup of coffee contains about 100 mg of caffeine.
2. Reduced Risk of Parkinson’s
A Harvard study found that men who drink four cups of caffeinated coffee every day are half as likely to develop Parkinson’s than men who do not drink coffee. It’s believed that caffeine works to keep dopamine molecules in the brain active while blocking adenosine to slow the build-up of amyloid beta, the brain plaque associated with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
3. Lowered Risk of Heart Disease
While caffeine restricts arteries and causes blood pressure to rise by up to 10 points in nonhabitual drinkers, researchers have found that regular coffee drinkers actually have lower blood pressure and a lower risk of heart disease. Harvard researchers found that drinking even six or more cups of caffeinated coffee per day didn’t increase the risk of heart disease. Another study found that men who drank four cups of coffee a day had a 53 percent lower risk of dying from heart disease than men who did not drink coffee.
4. Decreased Risk of Diabetes
The risk of type 2 diabetes increases with age. More than 26 percent of seniors in the United States now have diabetes, and it is the 7th leading cause of death in America. Caffeine may help to lower the risk of developing the disease. According to a 2005 study by Harvard University, drinking five cups of caffeinated coffee per day reduces the risk of developing diabetes by half.
5. Reduced Risk of Kidney Stones
Researchers aren’t sure why exactly, but the prevalence of kidney stones increases dramatically for men between 40 and 70 years old. Once someone gets a kidney stone, they stand a higher chance of developing more. In a large study of more than 217,000 people, caffeine was found to reduce the risk of kidney stone formation. It’s believed that caffeine works to dilute urine to prevent the accumulation of urine crystals.
Learn more about elderly health and wellness by reaching out to Home Care Assistance at (303) 987-5992. We are the leading provider of senior care in Jefferson County and can help your senior loved one maintain physical, mental, and emotional health. Give us a call today. We are here to help!