From Starbucks to Red Bull to Coca-Cola, caffeine has become a daily source of energy for many people. Many people use it as the spark that ignites the engines of their brain and body, allowing them to rely on it to get them through a long day.
However, not all caffeine is created equal, and new research suggests that synthetic caffeine may accelerate aging, while natural caffeine slows age-related decline.
Does synthetic caffeine accelerate aging?
The type of caffeine contained in coffee may have an impact on its anti-aging effects.
About 60 percent of the caffeine consumed by Americans is synthesized in a lab, meaning it doesn’t come from natural sources such as coffee beans or tea trees. Popular companies such as Pepsi, Coca-Cola and Red Bull add synthetic caffeine to their beverages in order to add an extra kick to their drinks.
One study found that the higher the caffeine intake, the shorter the telomeres in adults, which is a sign of cellular aging. However, increased coffee intake was associated with longer telomeres. This suggests that compounds other than caffeine may have anti-aging effects.
“On the surface, one might assume that caffeine intake and coffee consumption are essentially the same variable.” The researchers wrote, “but this is not the case.
These findings echo previous findings that among 4,780 female nurses in the United Kingdom, the more coffee consumed, the longer their telomeres were.
However, a study published in Nutrition in 2023 found that instant coffee was negatively correlated with telomere length, possibly due to higher levels of the DNA-damaging mineral lead in instant coffee, while standard filtered coffee showed no adverse side effects.
Research also suggests that green tea prevents telomere shortening, while synthetic caffeine causes DNA damage. The results of a study that investigated caffeine in green tea, coffee and soft drinks may provide a helping hand in people’s choice of beverages.
“We suggest that green tea consumption produces beneficial effects on LTL (leukocyte telomere length) and that soft drink consumption produces potentially detrimental effects, which may be manifested by accelerated aging.” The study authors wrote.
The Anti-Aging Secrets of Coffee and Tea
Several studies have shown that a variety of antioxidant compounds in coffee and tea provide them with anti-aging benefits.
Studies have shown that coffee and tea protect DNA integrity and reduce oxidative damage. In a randomized controlled study involving 50 men and 50 women, dark roasted coffee reduced DNA damage by 23 percent in just four weeks. Another eight-week intervention study involving 96 adults found similar results.
Multiple studies have shown that a variety of antioxidant compounds in coffee and tea provide them with anti-aging benefits.
Studies have shown that coffee and tea protect DNA integrity and reduce oxidative damage. In a randomized controlled study involving 50 men and 50 women, dark roasted coffee reduced DNA damage by 23 percent in just four weeks. Another eight-week intervention study involving 96 adults found similar results.
Some studies have shown that caffeine in isolation does not protect against neurodegenerative disease. Coffee may still be the best source of caffeine for preventing Alzheimer’s disease because a component of coffee works synergistically with caffeine to strengthen the ability to prevent the disease from worsening.
How much caffeine is too much?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends consuming no more than 400 milligrams of caffeine per day, the amount of caffeine in four to five cups of coffee.
Foods with natural caffeine such as chocolate contain about 12 milligrams of caffeine, beverages such as coffee and tea contain up to 95 milligrams of natural caffeine per serving, and energy drinks can contain up to 300 grams of synthetic caffeine per serving.
Soaring caffeine levels have been linked to heart attacks in young people, but some studies have shown that coffee and tea have heart-protective properties.
However, even though coffee and tea possess these reported benefits, some experts advise caution.
Whether natural or synthetic, dependence on caffeine reflects the problem of the “addiction crisis”.
It is recommended to eat breakfast before consuming caffeine and to wait 60 to 90 minutes after waking up before drinking caffeinated beverages or consuming other caffeine.
Another recommendation is to take a three-day break (or longer) from caffeine every three to six months.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)