Over the years, we have written many blogs about coffee. Researchers are forever discovering new aspects of how coffee impacts health.
They argue a lot about how it benefits people, only ever agreeing that it’s best when enjoyed black. They say you should drink it after breakfast but before exercise, warn that it might raise cholesterol if prepared incorrectly, but say it’s good for heart health. It can be hard to cut through the noise to learn how best to drink coffee!
One of the questions that comes up time and again is whether or not coffee ages you. And the answer isn’t straightforward.
Excess sugar ages your skin. So if you are pouring sugar into your coffee, you may end up looking older than you are. Dehydration is also bad for your skin. Coffee is a diuretic, and if you drink too much of it, or drink it in place of water, your skin may suffer and make you look older. Drinking coffee instead of water can lead to poor eating habits and hinder healthy aging. And drinking coffee later in the afternoon or evening may disrupt sleep and contribute to unhealthy aging or appearing older.
Dr. Gary Goldenberg, a cosmetic dermatologist, pointed out that much of healthy aging and younger-looking skin starts with your microbiome. And he said, “Poor quality coffee, especially if drank with dairy products sourced from cows injected with antibiotics, can disrupt gut flora.”
However, Dr. Goldenberg said giving up coffee isn’t necessary as it has perks. You just have to drink good coffee. “Caffeine has been shown to be beneficial for your skin,” said Dr. Goldenberg. “It has antioxidant properties and has been shown to be anti-inflammatory.”
Coffee is highly acidic. It can damage your teeth and make them stained or erode. But it’s easy to counter that problem by drinking a glass of water after your hot coffee and enjoying your iced coffee through a straw.
Outside of skin and teeth, coffee has many benefits. It is packed with antioxidants. Studies have found that drinking coffee was linked to a 20 percent lower risk of mortality in men and a 26 percent lower risk in women. It may also prevent some cancers, including skin cancer.
There are plenty of reasons to drink coffee. If you drink coffee responsibly, there’s no reason to believe it will cause unhealthy or rapid aging. As long as you drink plenty of water, take care of your teeth and don’t add too many things to your cup, you should feel safe enjoying your brew!
