Millions of Canadians’ favourite morning tradition has come under attack from many corners in the last few years, but scientist and medical practitioners have had a coffee epiphany of sorts that will change the way many Canadians and North Americans think about the morning tradition of drinking a hot coffee to bring the mind to life for the days’ toils.

Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health’s recent study looked at coffee drinking and the associated risk of dying from heart disease, cancer or any other life ending causes. The study indicated that people drinking more coffee were less likely to die during 18 years of continual documentation in men, and 24 years in women.

The study indicated that drinking up to six cups of coffee per day doesn’t increase the risk of an early death and appears to protect women from strokes and fatal heart attacks. The effects were most noticeable in women who drank two to five cups of coffee a day, with a 26 percent less chance of dying than Canadians preferring a different morning tradition; this was mainly due to a lower risk of death from heart disease.

Women who consumed two to three cups of caffeinated coffee during the day were 25 percent less likely to die from cardiovascular disease than Canadians choosing a different beverage. Those who drank additional cups over the four of five daily ones had their risk of cardiovascular disease decrease even more, by 34 percent. The study found no correlation between coffee drinking and dying of cancer in either gender.

Researchers did indicate that the numbers for men were similar, but that the numbers didn’t have any statistical significance. The study was published in this week’s Annals of Internal Medicine, the new study suggests that coffee drinkers can be reassured that coffee doesn’t increase the risk dying early.

Unfortunately, previous studies have been inconsistent with the findings of this study; some studies found that coffee increases the risk of heart disease and others found the opposite findings. People who drank large amounts of decaffeinated coffee also died at a slightly lower rate, indicating or at least suggesting that something other than the caffeine in coffee at work in those who are dying early.

People who drank large amounts of decaffeinated coffee also had slightly lower death rates, suggesting it’s something other than the caffeine in coffee at work. Could there be something else at work here, other than caffeine, that is beneficial and possibly detrimental to human health, time and research will tell.

It’s too early to say coffee is beneficial for the health or not, I guess we better wait for the next study.