A new study shows that women who drink two to three cups of coffee daily have a smaller rate of death from heart disease, a new study shows.

The Study 

The research, published today in the Annals of Internal Medicine, looked at 84,214 women between 1980 and 2004, and nearly 41,736 men between 1986 and 2004. The volunteers filled in questionnaires about their coffee habits and health every two to four years.

Women who drank two or three cups of full-strength coffee a day were 25 per cent less likely to die of heart disease during the follow-up period as compared with non-consumers.

They were also 18 per cent less likely to die from something other than cancer or heart disease. The research found no link between coffee drinking and cancer.

Those who drank decaffeinated coffee also had lower death rates than those who abstained.

The scientists were unsure whether the coffee itself was cutting the risk of dying prematurely - or whether something else in the lifestyle of female coffee drinkers protects them.

Study author Dr Esther Lopez-Garcia said: "Coffee consumption has been linked to various beneficial and detrimental health effects, but data on its relation with death were lacking. Coffee consumption was not associated with a higher risk of mortality in middle-aged men and women. 'The possibility of a modest benefit of coffee consumption on heart disease, cancer, and other causes of death needs to be further investigated."

The study contradicted fears that coffee is bad for the health. Drinking as much as six cups a day did not raise the risk of premature death in either sex.

Coffee contains antioxidants and tannins which are good for the heart and arteries. Past studies have suggested it can also be good for the liver and help reduce the risk of asthma attacks.

The complete results were published in the June 17, 2008 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.