If you’re over fifty, you should have a cup of coffee every morning.

There’s a joke that when scientists have nothing to do, they try to find new beneficial or harmful properties of coffee and tea. In fact, coffee or tea can either improve your health or harm it, depending on the quantity you consume and your personal characteristics and lifestyle.

Scientists from Singapore found out that the habit of drinking tea or starting your morning with an invigorating cup of coffee can contribute to making your old age happy and active. For 20 years, researchers monitored the indicators of over 12,000 people. The study was conducted in three stages.

The first stage lasted from 1993 to 1998. At that time, the average age of the participants was 53 years. Each of them had to answer a questionnaire related to their health condition and lifestyle. Additionally, they had to report how often and in what quantities they drank coffee and tea.

The second stage took place from 2006 to 2010. During this period, study participants had to report how their weight and well-being had changed.

The third stage was conducted from 2014 to 2017, and by this time, the average age of the participants was already 73 years. Researchers again assessed their health status, physical strength, and mobility. In the end, researchers concluded that for coffee and tea lovers, whether black or green, the likelihood of being physically inactive in old age is less than others. There are several reasons for this, as coffee and tea contain caffeine, which is present in these drinks. Additionally, coffee and tea contain plant pigments – polyphenols – these beneficial substances act as antioxidants, have anti-inflammatory properties, and help protect the body from diabetes, heart and vascular diseases, and obesity.