They analyzed the health status and habits of 10,000 Americans, and published the results of their work in BMC Public Health.

The study showed that those who drink coffee regularly are protected from the negative effects of physical inactivity, even if they sit for six or more hours a day. They are 1.5 times less likely to die than those who do not drink coffee with a sedentary lifestyle, writes naukatv.ru.

It turned out that drinking this drink essentially negates the link between inactivity and mortality from cardiovascular diseases and other causes. This is all the more surprising because even physical exercise cannot fully protect against the long-term effects of a sedentary lifestyle - type 2 diabetes, heart disease or stroke.

It is still unclear why coffee has such a protective effect and what is the ideal dose. In the study participants who consumed it, mortality from cardiovascular diseases decreased regardless of the amount of coffee they drank. Those who drank more than 2.5 cups a day had a lower risk of death from any cause. Researchers suggest that caffeine accelerates metabolism and reduces inflammation, reducing the likelihood of developing diabetes, cardiovascular and degenerative diseases (for example, Parkinson's disease). Some compounds found even in decaffeinated coffee may be rich in antioxidants.

"Given that coffee is a complex compound, it is necessary to continue working on the study of this drink," the Chinese scientists conclude.