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Sitting has many health risks
Staying screwed to your chair for hours is not without consequences. In France, 70 % of adults spend an average of eight hours a day in a sitting position, often because of office work. This way of life leads to a series of physiological disorders: slowdown in metabolism, disruption of blood pressure, poor regulation of blood sugar and fat accumulation. Ultimately, this prolonged inactivity causes chronic inflammation, capable of damaging various organs.
But a recent study by SOOOCHOW University, in China, shakes up certainties: according to researchers, coffee could play an unexpected role in the fight against the deleterious effects of sedentary lifestyle.
Can coffee reduce the risk of sedentary lifestyle? Study results
The scientific team looked at data of more than 10,000 American adults, followed for ten years. Their consumption of coffee and the time spent sitting was meticulously crossed. Standing result: the individuals sitting more than six hours a day and consuming coffee regularly presented a risk of premature death of 30 % compared to those who did not drink.
Why such an effect? Researchers are advancing the hypothesis of Bioactive compounds Present in coffee, especially natural antioxidants. These molecules could, according to them, play a protective role against the effects of inactivity, by limiting inflammation and protecting cells. As they point out in their report: “Coffee is rich in bioactive substances and it is more and more obvious that it can reduce mortality due to chronic diseases thanks to its powerful properties “.
Here is what the researchers have precisely observed:
- People drinking between 2 and 3 cafes per day saw their risk of death drop by a third;
- This benefit disappeared beyond 4 cups daily;
- The protective effect mainly concerned individuals sedentary more than 6 hours a day.
The benefits do not exempt from moving
Despite these encouraging results, scientists warn against any form of excess confidence. Coffee cannot replace physical activity. Moving remains essential for the cardiovascular system, muscle tone and mental balance. Coffee can bring a boost, but it does not compensate for the hours of total immobility.
In a society where we spend the majority of the day seated, this daily, simple and accessible gesture, could however offer a concrete track To reduce the negative effects of sedentary lifestyle. Without being a miracle solution, a cup of coffee could well be worth more than a simple revival of energy.