Your coffee habit could be working overtime to help your cells handle stress better, says study

You love to hold that hot cup of coffee and relax. Well! Coffee isn’t just about warmth and comfort, it may also help your cells fight stress and ageing, suggests a recent study (Image: Canva)

For many, coffee is a comforting ritual, whether it’s sipping slowly to unwind or grabbing a quick cup to boost concentration. That familiar warmth and caffeine hit offer not just energy but also a moment of calm in the middle of the rush. Whether it’s your morning ritual or your afternoon saviour, that warm cup works wonders for your mood.

Also, coffee doesn’t just wake you up, it often makes you feel more alert, motivated and ready to deal with the day. According to a recent study at Queen Mary University of London, caffeine appears to do far more than just perk you up. Researchers found it activates AMPK, a crucial cellular energy sensor that helps cells manage stress and energy dips. This unexpected link explains why coffee is connected to better health and potentially longer life.

Here are the some ways coffee might be helping your body more than just boosting your energy:

Also read | 10 health benefits of black coffee, more than a morning habit

• Activate your cells’ fuel: Caffeine triggers AMPK, a powerful internal fuel gauge that signals cells to conserve energy and function more efficiently when stressed.

• Help your cells repair: By influencing key pathways, caffeine encourages cells to repair DNA damage more effectively, which is essential for slowing the ageing process naturally.

• Boost your body’s stress response: Caffeine strengthens the ability of cells to cope with stressful conditions, improving how they respond to changes in their environment.

• Support healthy cell growth: It plays a role in regulating cell growth, helping balance when cells grow and when they focus on maintenance and repair.

• Tap into ancient systems: Caffeine connects with deeply rooted biological mechanisms shared by yeast and humans, highlighting its surprising and longstanding influence on cell health.

• Resemble longevity medicines: Interestingly, caffeine activates similar pathways to metformin, a diabetes drug currently being researched for its potential anti-ageing effects.

• Encourage resilience from within: By fine-tuning key cellular processes, caffeine may quietly build up your body’s inner ability to stay strong, even under physical or emotional pressure.