Good News for Coffee Drinkers! Caffeine May Slow Aging

For many people, the morning routine is not complete without a fresh cup of joe. Everyone understands that caffeinated coffee can provide a useful boost to your energy levels throughout the day. It's one of the main reasons that about 80% of the world consumes caffeine on a daily basis.

Caffeine has long been associated with a number of health benefits, but recent studies show that the substance may have much more substantial effects on your body than previously realized. Specifically, caffeine might have the power to diminish the effects of cellular aging.

Over time, cells lose their ability to divide and replicate, leading to the symptoms of aging as you get older. Research published in the journal Microbial Cell detailed how caffeine may slow the aging process and keep you feeling like your youthful self for a longer period of time. Read on to learn more about these findings and the other ways a certain amount of caffeine could help you live a more fulfilling life. 

Caffeine 101: More Than Just a Pick-Me-Up

Caffeine is a naturally occurring stimulant found in many plants, drinks, and food products. Its power stems from the way it temporarily impacts your brain chemistry. Adenosine is a neurotransmitter that induces drowsiness by slowing down the activity of nerve cells. Caffeine binds to the adenosine receptor in its place and causes nerve cells to speed up. Caffeine also constricts blood vessels in your brain (by contrast, adenosine causes them to dilate), which is why some headache medicines include caffeine to help manage migraines. 

Ingesting caffeine results in a domino effect that can increase your alertness for a few hours. How? The pituitary gland reacts to the increased neural activity by producing more adrenaline, putting more than a little pep in your step. Dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin levels also increase, which can help people feel happier and more willing to engage with the world around them. 

Overall, the most immediate benefits of caffeine most commonly reported by drinkers include:

• Increased focus
• Improved memory
• Better mood
• Delaying muscle fatigue
• Elevating your heart rate

The strengths of caffeine have led to its use as part of the treatment plan for various ailments. Researchers have found that regularly drinking coffee may reduce inflammation and could decrease the chances of serious conditions such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and cancer developing inside your body. The main reason for this is that caffeine contains substantial antioxidant properties that can support your body's systems and help you remain in good health. 

Caffeine is one of over 100 antioxidant compounds known as polyphenols found in coffee, which is more plentiful than what you'll find in green tea, black tea, or red wine. What type of coffee provides the best combination of antioxidants? As of now, there is no clear answer. The concentration and types of antioxidants may differ depending on several factors, such as:

• The roasting temperature and duration
• The type of coffee bean
• The brewing method
• Where the beans are grown

You will find plenty of antioxidants in Laird's line of organic coffees and instant lattes. Each and every one of our products is made with ingredients sourced from the finest suppliers around the world with an emphasis on American growers. Each sip offers you the opportunity to receive the full breadth of caffeine's restorative properties.

Can Caffeine Increase Longevity?

To understand how caffeine may increase longevity, we first need to understand how antioxidants work. They are valuable because of their ability to combat the effects of free radicals, unstable atoms that can cause oxidative stress on cells, damaging them over time. Free radicals lack the necessary number of electrons to complete their outer shell, and their attempts to bond with other molecules can impair a cell's ability to replicate or function properly. Antioxidants are unique substances in that they can donate an electron to free radicals to reduce their reactivity without becoming a free radical in the process. 

A study published in the journal Microbial Cell found that caffeine may provide healthy stress to cells that is better for your health in the long run. Caffeine can induce a stress response called activated protein kinase (AMPK) that forces cells to recycle parts of themselves to conserve resources and repair themselves, keeping your body in better shape. These findings aren't the only example of caffeine improving cellular health. It has also been found to promote the movement of proteins in the mitochondria (the powerhouse of the cell) to increase energy production and response time to any stress or injury.

This study is the latest mark of validation of the idea that antioxidants can help you age more slowly. The "free radical theory of aging" posits that the buildup of free radicals is a primary reason that some people age more emphatically than others. 

Caffeine and Cognitive Aging

Caffeine isn't just good for the body. There's also plenty of evidence that it may be good for the mind as well. Multiple studies have found a link between regular consumption of caffeine and a slower cognitive decline. The substance's effects on the brain are especially helpful for older people. Caffeine has been shown to decrease the risk of developing Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease in the elderly. For those unlucky enough to live with these conditions, there is some evidence that caffeine can also help manage symptoms as well. 

How Much Caffeine Should I Drink?

For all of caffeine's beneficial properties, it's important to remember the adage that you can have too much of a good thing. Anyone who consumes caffeine on a regular basis will begin to build up a tolerance to it. Your age, weight, and overall health status all factor into your level of tolerance. This means you'll need to drink more cups of coffee or seek out more intense sources for the same effects of your previous caffeine routine. This can get dangerous quickly if you're not careful. 

Excessive quantities of caffeine can make you feel jittery or provoke feelings of anxiety. If you have been diagnosed with a panic or anxiety disorder, some doctors may recommend avoiding caffeine entirely. 

There is also the potential that too much caffeine can lead to addiction. While it is much milder than illicit substances, caffeine is similar enough to harder drugs that any lifestyle change that involves a lower dosage may lead to severe withdrawal symptoms. Signs of caffeine withdrawal include:

• Headaches
• Tiredness
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Irritability
• Trouble Concentrating 
• Shakiness
• Lack of Energy

It is also possible to overdose on caffeine, but that is exceedingly rare. If you would like to reduce your caffeine intake, you should do so slowly to minimize potential withdrawal symptoms. 

These facts make it clear that your caffeine intake is something that should be kept in moderation. According to the Food and Drug Administration, most adults can safely consume up to 400 milligrams (mg) of caffeine a day. This equates to three to five average-sized cups of coffee. This standard is echoed by a study published in the journal ScienceDirect in May. In the study that involved nearly 50,000 adults, they found that one to three cups of coffee each day could lower a person's chance of death in the next decade 15% when compared to people who didn't drink any coffee at all. 

The FDA doesn't have clear guidelines for children, but the Canadian government offers these recommendations on caffeine limits for adolescents of certain ages:

• Ages 4-6: 45 mg
• Ages 7-9: 62.5 mg
• Ages 10-12: 85 mg
• Ages 12-18: 100 mg

How To Mitigate the Harmful Effects of Caffeine

To ensure that you stay with the daily recommended limit, be sure to read the labels of your drinks so you know exactly what you're putting in your body. Also, be sure to assess yourself to understand how different amounts of caffeine make you feel. 

Another way to mitigate the negative aspects of caffeine is to limit your intake to the early hours of the day. Caffeine has a half-life (the amount of time it takes for a substance to be reduced by half) of about five hours, so any dose taken in the late afternoon or evening will probably still be in your system when you go to bed, impacting your ability to get the deep sleep you need to refresh your body at night. 

Caffeine and coffee are synonymous with each other, but there are many other natural sources to receive a caffeinated dose. Caffeine is a common ingredient in:

• Black tea
• Chai tea
• Green tea
• Matcha tea
• Kombucha
• Yerba mate
• Dark chocolate
• Health supplements

Caffeine Fits Into a Mindful Aging Strategy

Like any other substance, your caffeine intake should be monitored because of the potential consequences of developing an unhealthy habit or ingesting too much of it in a short amount of time. But when taken in moderation, caffeine may be able to play a role in keeping yourself fit, healthy, and mentally sharp throughout the day and help your body emit a youthful glow regardless of your actual age.  

The key to experiencing the full breadth of caffeine's health benefits is to be mindful about how much caffeine you consume and where you get it from. At Laird Superfoods, we create delicious drinks, snacks, and supplements that will deliver the boost your body needs to perform and look as good as possible. We combine the finest organic ingredients to help you achieve your health goals and fit within any dietary restrictions you may have. Explore our store to find the brew (or any of our non-rhyming wares) that is right for you.

Resources: 

• The Microbial Cell study - https://microbialcell.com/researcharticles/2025a-alao-microbial-cell/
• A recap of the study in layman's terms - https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/caffeine-may-slow-cellular-aging-by-activating-a-protective-stress-response-5883004?utm_source=Health&src_src=Health&utm_campaign=health-2025-07-15&src_cmp=health-2025-07-15&utm_medium=email&est=jOn9O0h67Z%2Fy2RNAQxHqa71CdC0GfIOBA8zFcwSRRDmk56s5cVdgmv8BJjsTAp4zcg%3D%3D
• About 80% of the world population consumes caffeine every day - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7912121/#:~:text=Introduction,1%2C2%2C3%5D.
• How Caffeine Works - https://science.howstuffworks.com/caffeine.htm
• The Effects of Caffeine on Your Body - https://www.healthline.com/health/caffeine-effects-on-body
• Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much? - https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/spilling-beans-how-much-caffeine-too-much
• Coffee Consumption and Mortality among United States Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S002231662500286X?via%3Dihub
• 9 Reasons Why (the Right Amount of) Coffee Is Good for You - https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/9-reasons-why-the-right-amount-of-coffee-is-good-for-you