In one of the few NEJM articles that does not deal with drugs, a recent one, NEJM, May 17, 2012, reported, in a huge study of over 400,000 people followed over 14 years, that coffee improves longevity. Those drinking 6 or more cups of coffee daily, BUT NOT SMOKING, enjoyed a 10% increase in longevity among men and a 15% increase in women!

This is the third large study reporting increased longevity for heavy coffee drinkers. Even lesser amounts of coffee conveyed at least some improvement in longevity. Smokers, of course, not only had no benefit from coffee drinking, IN THEM, COFFEE seems to have an adverse effect. All causes of death, except cancer, were decreased in the coffee drinkers.

It appears that antioxidants in coffee may well provide more benefit than caffeine might cause harm. In fact, at least in this and two other big studies, caffeine seems remarkably safe, except in smokers! Coffee does indeed improve longevity!

Personally, I love my 2 and occasionally 3 cups daily of Gano Coffee, with Reishi mushrooms and far less caffeine than regular coffee, but I don’t think I could handle 12 cups a day!

The bottom line is Enjoy Coffee, if you do not smoke. If you smoke, be prepared to recycle earlier!

Norman Shealy, M.D., Ph.D. is the father of holistic medicine. He recommends autogenic focus (the basis of the Biogenics System) as part of your overall commitment to self-health.