Cut the Coffee: Drink Could Cause Early Death

Too much coffee might give you the jitters, gas or even help cure your hang over. Or it might help wake you up. Or you might just genuinely like the tary taste of a nice dark roast. However, a recent study suggests that too much coffee may also be detrimental to your health. 

Statistics show that coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the United States, with workers running to Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts to consume more than 400 cups of Joe a day.

Yet if you're gulping down cups of coffee by the hour and under 55 years old, it could pose unnecessary health risks that may limit your life.

The study looked at 45,000 participants between 20 and 87 years old who revealed that people who have more than four cups of coffee a week are 21 percent more likely to die an early death. Researchers found that there is a greater than 50 percent increased mortality risk in both men and women younger than 55 years of age who drank more than 28 cups of coffee a week.

Results also showed that those who were followed up with after a 17 year period had a 32 percent higher risk for cardiovascular disease. In turn, they also discovered that those who drank more coffee were more likely to smoke and had lower levels of cardiorespiratory fitness.

Yet those who were over the age of 55 did not show health problems regarding heavy coffee consumptions.

"Significantly, the results did not demonstrate any association between coffee consumption and all-cause mortality among older men and women. It is also important to note that none of the doses of coffee in either men or women whether younger or older had any significant effects on cardiovascular mortality," said Senior investigator Steven H. Blair of University of South Carolina, via a press release.

Coffee has shown many benefits through various health studies, including inflammation reduction and increased cognitive function. However, it can also increase blood pressure and insulin activity.

Researchers believe that age and coffee consumption may show a direct link between whether or not there will be beneficial effects.

More information regarding the study can be found in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings.