Living longer depends on many factors. Some are outside of your control, such as genes and hereditary traits. But others are very controllable. These include healthy habits such as not smoking, not drinking too much alcohol, exercising regularly, and eating lots of fruits and vegetables. But there are two important beverages that can also help you live longer. Can you guess what they are?
The truth about coffee and tea
Coffee: OK, so there has been so much information about whether or not coffee is good for you. But, a recent study by Harvard nutrition researchers found that drinking coffee every day may not only reduce your risk of dying earlier due to heart disease and neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, it could also help increase your life span. The study also showed that drinking 2-3 cups of coffee per day helped lower the risk of dying from diseases like diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease, stroke, infections and even injuries and accidents.
Tea: Herbal tea such as chamomile tea has long been known for its health benefits that include settling the stomach and producing a relaxing effect. That benefit now seems to include living longer. The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston did a study that analyzed seven years of data from more than 1,600 Hispanic women and men ages 65 or older. The study found that drinking chamomile tea lowered by 29 percent the risk of death among women. The effects were similar among men, but women appear to be larger consumers of herbal tea.
So, the next time you have a cup of coffee or herbal tea, you are contributing to your overall health and adding years to your life.