Coffee could counteract health risks of prolonged sitting, new study suggests

Years of sedentary behaviour, such as sitting on an office chair or lounging on a couch, can have detrimental long-term health effects. However, incorporating a regular cup of coffee into your daily routine might mitigate these negative impacts, according to recent research.

A study conducted by researchers at Soochow University in China examined over 10,000 individuals in the United States and found that daily coffee consumption could protect against the adverse effects of sitting for six or more hours a day. The findings suggest that sedentary coffee drinkers are 1.58 times less likely to die from all causes over a span of up to 13 years, compared to those who do not drink coffee but spend similar amounts of time sitting.

The researchers claim their study is the first to evaluate the potential health benefits of coffee in counteracting the increased risk of death associated with prolonged sitting. By analysing nationally representative long-term health data from the US, the team discovered that coffee consumption essentially nullifies the link between a sedentary lifestyle and mortality from cardiovascular disease and other causes.

“This is particularly remarkable given that even regular exercise might not fully shield against the long-term health risks of extended sitting, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or stroke,” noted the researchers.

Among the 10,639 participants considered in the study, those who sat for more than eight hours a day faced a higher risk of death from all causes, including cardiovascular disease, compared to individuals who sat for less than four hours daily. This supports previous research, but the study unveiled a novel finding: the health risks associated with sitting were significant “only among adults who did not consume coffee.”

Participants with a sedentary lifestyle who drank coffee showed a reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease, regardless of the amount of coffee consumed. Intriguingly, those who drank more than two and a half cups of coffee per day had a lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to non-coffee drinkers who also sat for at least six hours daily.

While the study does not provide a definitive explanation for why coffee might offer this protective effect, previous research with large datasets has linked coffee consumption to longer, healthier lives. Caffeine has been shown to lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, and even decaffeinated coffee contains antioxidants that may enhance metabolism and reduce inflammation. Some compounds in coffee may also protect the brain from degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s.

Despite these promising associations, the precise mechanisms and optimal dosage for coffee’s health benefits require further investigation. For instance, earlier this year, another study found that individuals with colorectal cancer who drank at least five cups of coffee daily had a 32 percent lower chance of their disease returning compared to those who drank fewer than two cups a day. Additionally, three to five cups of coffee per day were linked to the greatest reduction in all-cause mortality, although the benefits diminished beyond five cups.

“Given that coffee is a complex compound, further research is needed to explore this miracle compound,” the researchers at Soochow University concluded.

The study has been published in BMC Public Health, highlighting the potential of coffee as a simple yet effective measure to counteract the health risks of a sedentary lifestyle.