After analyzing data from more than half a million people in Britain and Finland, researchers from China's Hubei University concluded that instant coffee may pose a real threat to eye health, especially for people who carry genes that increase the risk of developing the disease.
What is truly alarming is that the study revealed that increasing consumption of two to four cups of instant coffee per day raises the risk of developing the disease by about seven times in this group.
Behind this relationship lies a precise scientific explanation, as the problem lies in the manufacturing process of this type of coffee, which involves drying the concentrated extract by spraying it through hot air, leading to the generation of high levels of harmful compounds such as acrylamide and other substances that cause inflammation and damage to the sensitive retinal cells.
On the other hand, the study offers some reassurance to traditional coffee lovers, as it showed no link between consuming ground or decaffeinated coffee and an increased risk of the disease. This led the researchers to advise those genetically predisposed to the disease to avoid instant coffee and seek safer alternatives.
Some experts warn against over-interpreting these results, pointing out that macular degeneration is a disease with complex causes, and that the real protection of vision lies in following a healthy lifestyle that includes quitting smoking, maintaining an ideal weight, eating a balanced diet, and having regular eye examinations.
