Coffee Can Add Years to Your Life

Turns out your cranky uncle was right all along: coffee is the nectar of the gods… as long as you don’t ruin it with a bucket of cream and a pound of sugar.

A new study out of Tufts University found that drinking one to three cups of black, caffeinated coffee a day is linked to a lower risk of dying, especially from heart-related issues.

So, not only does it not “stunt your growth,” like your grandma warned you about, it might actually extend your life.

But there’s a catch: we’re talking about real, honest, grown-up coffee. Not the 700-calorie dessert disguised as a beverage that you just ordered from Starbucks with whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and a misspelled name.

Researchers say the benefits are mostly tied to black coffee, or coffee with only tiny amounts of added sugar and fat. People who drank it this way had a 14% lower risk of death than non-coffee drinkers.

For the record, “low sugar” means about half a teaspoon per cup. And “low fat” means something like one tablespoon of light cream, or five tablespoons of 2% milk if you’re feeling fancy.

Two to three cups a day seems to be the sweet spot, but don’t bother doubling that and expecting to live forever.

Drinking more than three didn’t give any added benefits… except maybe the ability to hear colors.

Scientists think the credit goes to bioactive compounds in coffee that help your heart, fight inflammation, and possibly make mornings bearable.

So go ahead, pour yourself another cup of black gold. Just don’t let the barista turn it into a milkshake.