What would you give up to stay young forever? A recent poll found that half of men, and one third of women, 18 to 64 would not give up sex in exchange for the Fountain of Youth. For those over 64, coffee was mentioned most often as the item they would never give up just to stay youthful. (Senior Journal, “Most Adults Won’t Give Up Sex for Staying Young, Senior Citizens Won’t Give Up Coffee,” 04-20-04)
. . . . too tempting? . . . 
Still safely on the young side of 60, we at pyj nonetheless agree on the coffee. The caffeine urge is in our genes, no matter what’s in our jeans. From looking at skepticalEsq, we’d say giving up sex won’t work anyway — at least, not involuntary chastity.
- Superfluous? What would Americans give up to look and feel young? According to the article, “While 13 percent of Americans admitted they are not willing to give up anything for a sip of the youthful nectar, 15 percent would cease their intake of dessert and chocolate, 10 percent would surrender their coffee cup and nine percent would trade in their cable box.“
- Superficial? What worries do Americans have about aging? “The concern of physically feeling old (41 percent) may keep Americans more devoted to their anti-aging regimen than their concern for mentally feeling old (22 percent). Sagging skin is the biggest aging worry for those ages 18 to 24 (20 percent) while the 65-and-over age segment are exasperated by the appearance of wrinkles. Hair loss and graying was the top physical anguish for men (18 percent).”
Yikes.
Aftertaste? (05-05-04): Yesterday, Scheherazade wrote about her Coffee Craving, confessing to badly missing the satisfaction of a strong cup of coffee, especially when compared to any cup of tea. (To Your Editor, tea — no matter what type or what you do to it — seems far more like medicine, dishwater, or a gentle purgative than a beverage to enjoy with gusto.) However, having stopped drinking coffee a half dozen years ago, Ms. Fowler finds that if she has some coffee now it “feels really unhealthy” and she has the urge to “clean out her system” (That’s where having some tea around might help!)
I have no explanation for this phenonemon, except to say that Scheherazade has apparently been brainwashed against coffee — probably by some new-agey, tree-hugging, budinsky — and badly needs deprogramming, perhaps through going on a coffee binge or two. For the rest of you, take her advice and Just Say Yes to coffee. Your elders know what’s good for you: don’t give up coffee for some false promise of health. Go for the gusto!