New research suggests women who drink caffeinated coffee each day are more likely to avoid chronic disease as they age. The study found that drinking tea, cola or decaffeinated coffee did not have similar effects. This research was presented at a meeting of the American Society for Nutrition.

Middle-aged women who regularly drank caffeinated coffee were more likely to stay mentally sharp and physically functional as they aged, researchers reported Monday at a meeting of the American Society for Nutrition.

The daily ritual of imbibing a hot cup of freshly brewed and fragrant coffee isn't just good for the soul – it may be one of the ways to smooth the road to healthy aging for women. In a study of 47,513 women in the US with data spanning 30 years,