Professor Tim Spector says morning drink 'more beneficial' than we think

Starting your day with a steaming cup of coffee might be more beneficial than you think. A recent study has shed light on how coffee can alter gut bacteria, leading to an overall positive impact on health.

Professor Tim Spector, who is behind the research conducted by ZOE—a company he co-founded—has pointed out that coffee can "help reduce blood sugar and blood pressure". The study, which Spector also authored, delved into the effects the drink and found it comes packed with advantages for those who indulge in their daily java fix.

Speaking to Newsweek, Professor Spector shared: "This novel finding shows just how insightful gut microbiome data can be in helping us to accurately decode people's diets; a crucial step in helping people to improve their diet and gut health, by feeding their microbes what they love."

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Published on Monday in Nature Microbiology, the study reveals that regular coffee consumption is linked to a reduced risk of death from heart disease, lower chances of type 2 diabetes, and a decreased likelihood of certain cancers. "Coffee's health benefits are likely thanks to its complex chemical nature," Spector explained, noting that both caffeinated and decaf varieties are beneficial.

He elaborated: "Made by fermenting beans, coffee contains hundreds of compounds. These include a range of polyphenols, which fuel the gut microbiome and can help reduce blood sugar and blood pressure," reports the Mirror.

A team of scientists have conducted an extensive study, gathering data from 22,800 individuals in the UK and US who provided detailed dietary information, along with public data from another 54,200 people across 211 other cohorts. The research also involved studying over 400 plasma samples and more than 350 faecal samples, as well as conducting two in-vitro experiments to understand how coffee might affect a person's gut.

The results revealed that out of 150 different foods tested, our morning cuppa had the most significant association with gut microbiome composition. It was found that those who consumed more than three cups of coffee daily had significantly higher levels of Lawsonibacter asaccharolyticus, up to eight times compared to those who drank less than three cups monthly.

Professor Tim Spector commented on the findings, stating that the study "highlights just how fussy our microbes can be" and added that "Lawsonibacter microbe hangs around in suspended animation, just waiting for a cup of coffee in order to flourish. This gives us novel insights into how we need great diversity in plants to properly feed all our gut microbes and reap the health benefits."

Research suggests a specific type of bacteria may be behind the numerous health benefits associated with coffee consumption, as it breaks down coffee compounds into new substances with added benefits. Spector stated, "we don't know how this microbe impacts our health, though it may be involved in positive health impacts we can thank coffee for. This is the tip of the iceberg and shows how, with the massive sample size of ZOE's database, we can unlock many more food microbe connections, informing us how to eat for better health."