Just One More Reason to Start Your Day with Espresso
There’s something almost sacred about that first cup of coffee in the morning — the warmth in your hands, the quiet moment before the day really begins, and that first sip that somehow makes everything feel more manageable. But it turns out, your morning coffee might be doing more than just waking you up. According to new research, that daily cup could actually help support healthy aging in women.
The study, which was presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition, hasn’t been published yet — but it’s already creating a lot of buzz. And for good reason. It’s part of a growing body of evidence suggesting that coffee is more than just a delicious habit — it might actually be good for your long-term health. So, if you’re part of the 75 percent of Americans who can’t start their day without a cup of joe, here’s one more reason to enjoy it guilt-free.
What the Study Found
Researchers took a closer look at data from more than 47,000 women who participated in the long-running Nurses’ Health Study — which has been following women since the 1970s. The women had reported details about their diets, including how much coffee and other drinks they consumed over the years. The researchers then analyzed all that information to see how it related to what they called “healthy aging.”
To be considered a “healthy ager,” participants needed to be 70 years or older, in good physical and mental health, and free from major chronic illnesses like cancer, type 2 diabetes, or heart disease. Out of all the women in the study, about 3,700 met those criteria.
Here’s where it gets interesting: women who drank the most caffeine — the equivalent of about seven cups of coffee a day — between ages 45 and 60 were 13 percent more likely to be healthy agers than women who had less than one cup a day.
That’s a pretty striking difference. And while the study didn’t find any similar benefits from tea or decaf coffee, it did find that caffeinated soda was actually linked to lower odds of healthy aging.
“It’s important to remember that this was an observational study, so we can’t say coffee causes healthy aging,” explains Dr. Sara Mahdavi, a registered dietitian and adjunct professor at the University of Toronto. “But even after accounting for things like diet, exercise, weight, and smoking, the link between caffeine and healthy aging still held strong.”
Why Coffee Might Be Good for You
So, what’s behind this connection? The study didn’t dig into why coffee might promote healthy aging, but experts have a few theories. Coffee isn’t just caffeine — it’s packed with natural compounds like chlorogenic acids, trigonelline, and antioxidants, as well as small amounts of nutrients such as magnesium, potassium, and vitamin B3.
“These compounds can affect biological processes that are important for aging, like inflammation, blood vessel function, and how the body handles sugar,” says Dr. Mahdavi.
Hormones might also play a role. “In women, caffeine is mainly broken down in the liver by an enzyme that’s influenced by estrogen,” she explains. “During perimenopause or hormone therapy, caffeine may stay in the system longer, though we still don’t know exactly how that affects long-term health.”
And of course, antioxidants are another big part of coffee’s appeal. “Coffee is actually one of the biggest sources of antioxidants in the average person’s diet,” says Dr. Brian Balin, a neuroscience professor at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. “Those antioxidants can help protect your brain and heart, lower blood pressure, and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and stroke.”
The Bottom Line
Before you start chugging extra espresso shots, experts agree that moderation still matters. Too much caffeine can cause jitters, anxiety, and sleep problems — and everyone’s tolerance is different.
Still, if your morning ritual involves sipping a rich, dark cup of espresso, you can feel even better about it. Beyond the burst of energy and focus it brings, that daily cup might actually be helping you age a little more gracefully.
So tomorrow morning, when you take that first warm sip, pause for a second. You’re not just fueling your day — you might be fueling your future, too.
