Health

Benefits of drinking Coffee: Help Keep Your Skin Youthful

A recent study found that the benefits of drinking coffee may be associated with slower facial ageing, and may help keep your skin youthful. Roasted coffee is rich in polyphenols, which help combat oxidative stress and inflammation. Interestingly, lighter roasts might be better for skin health than dark roasts, as they retain more of these beneficial polyphenols.

Drinking coffee may slow signs of facial ageing, keeping your skin very youthful, a new study shows. However, how should take coffee and how many times should a person take it daily?

Published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, the study compared four beverages consumed by more than 16,000 Europeans: coffee, tea, alcohol, and sugar-sweetened beverages. Coffee was the only drink that showed a significant association with slower ageing in facial skin.

Researchers say coffee’s antioxidant properties can combat oxidative stress and inflammation. The polyphenols in roasted coffee may improve skin elasticity and hydration, delaying wrinkles and other signs of ageing.

“The magic seems to be in the antioxidants, particularly the polyphenols like chlorogenic acid. These compounds are likely what’s driving the anti-ageing effects we’re seeing in coffee drinkers.” Hannah Kopelman, DO, a dermatologist at Kopelman Hair Restoration, said.

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The type of roasted coffee matters, too, since polyphenols are sensitive to heat, said Tyler Long, DO, a dermatologist at Skin and Laser Center of New Jersey. Lighter roasts are more powerful than dark roasts because longer exposure to high temperatures during roasting could destroy polyphenols.

“Espresso is more concentrated, and it’s a lighter roast, which can be more beneficial for polyphenol content,” Long said. “I would choose the espresso over drip.”

Coffee or Tea contains polyphenols, too. While this study didn’t find a strong connection between tea consumption and delayed facial ageing, other studies have shown that green tea may ward off photoaging from UV exposure and reduce skin inflammation.

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Moderation and consistency are key to reaping the health benefits of the beverage. Kopelman said two to three 8-ounce cups of coffee are enough to get the full anti-ageing benefits.

Long added that excessive coffee consumption can cause cottonmouth, sleep disruption, and other unpleasant symptoms. It might be best to drink coffee moderately but keep it a consistent daily habit since antioxidants and other anti-inflammatory compounds can accumulate in the body.

Adding cream and sugar to your coffee isn’t recommended if you want to maximize its anti-ageing benefits.

“Sugar can contribute to glycation, which is the effect of sugar attaching to collagen and other types of structural materials in the skin,” Long said. “It can increase the oxidative stress in the tissue.”

If you’re adding milk to your coffee, Long recommends using whole milk instead of skim milk because the latter has a higher glycemic index, which can cause a spike in blood sugar levels.

The benefits of drinking Coffee were linked to slower facial ageing in a new study. The antioxidants in roasted coffee may improve skin elasticity and hydration, delaying wrinkles and other signs of ageing.