If you have already been criticized for drinking too much coffee, you now have several solid arguments to oppose this assertion. Even if caffeine is a psychoactive substance in the strict sense of the term, it can be an ally for your healthif you do not abuse it. Cardiovascular and anti -inflammatory benefits, reduction of the risk of developing a form of dementia, and even positive effects on life expectancy.
A new study published on June 24 in the journal Microbial Cell has just confirmed that caffeine modulates a regulation system present in our cells. The latter, called Ampk, influences their way of consume energy, repair and age.
Caffeine: a direct effect on the energy balances of your cells
L’AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) is an enzyme that is found in almost all cells. It serves as an energy sensor: as soon as the cell begins to lack “fuel”, The AMPK is activated to manage the situation. It slows down certain expensive processes, such as growth, and promotes those that allow the cell to survive, such as DNA repair or energy production from fat.
What this study shows is that caffeine is enough to activate this sensor, even in the absence of energy stress (hypoglycemia, fasting, etc.). The researchers observed an increase in the level of ampk phosphorylation (a chemical modification which triggers its activation) after exposure to caffeine. This is enough to start the functions that the cell usually reserve for lack situations : Reduction of unnecessary expenditure, strengthening of repair and resistance mechanisms.
In addition to activating this enzyme, caffeine acts on another regulatory path, called TOR (for Target of Rapamycin), a protein that controls cell growth according to the available resources. When all is well (abundance of nutrients, available energy) Tor pushes the cell to grow and divide.
A very useful and vital process in the short term, but in the long term, Constant TOR activation accelerates aging : cells grow, but they wear out faster, accumulate errors and less well repair the damage they undergo.
The AMPK acts as well as a kind of counterweight : When activated, it indirectly inhibits tor. Thanks to this limitation, cells go into mode ” energy saving ». They tend to grow less, erect better and show better resilience to stress.
This refocusing of cellular activity could therefore explain certain beneficial effects observed on a large scale in moderate coffee consumers : a lower risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular or neurodegenerative diseases.
Voilà Another virtue to add In the already well -supplied list of coffee. Even if he is not an elixir of youth, he reprogram our cells to that they do better with less. In addition to being a very effective stimulating effect drink and sought by many of its consumers, it acts as A real metabolic modulator. This is not a reason to swallow two liters per day, but you now have Another good reason to continue drinking it.
- Coffee can improve cell health by influencing internal mechanisms.
- It activates a cellular energy sensor (AMPK), promoting repair and resilience to stress.
- This action moderates cell growth (via TOR), potentially linked to better longevity and reduction in the risk of diseases.
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