Coffee may help your heart, American Heart Association says
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Coffee lovers rejoice. The American Heart Association says that extra cup may actually help your heart.
Why it matters: Studies have found that caffeine is the world's most popular stimulant, and coffee is how most people enjoy it. A new scientific statement from the AHA says up to five cups of coffee could be healthy.
Driving the news: The AHA outlined last week how consuming up to 400 mg of caffeine a day appears to be linked to a lower risk of several cardiovascular conditions, including heart disease and stroke, in some individuals.
- 400 mg of caffeine is equal to about three to five 8-ounce cups of caffeinated coffee.
Yes, but: The benefits are connected to black coffee — no milk, cream and sugar.
In fact, cutting sugar from coffee was linked to health benefits like lower rates of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and heart failure.
What they found: For people with optimal blood pressure, drinking 1 to 3 cups a day was associated with an increased risk of developing high blood pressure, while drinking more than 3 cups per day was associated with a lower risk.
- While drinking 2-4 cups of coffee per day was linked to some positive outcomes in cardiovascular disease, such as a lower risk of heart disease and stroke, more than 4 cups of caffeinated coffee a day may increase the risk of heart failure.
- Randomized trials indicate that a component in caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee called cafestol is associated with higher levels of "bad" cholesterol. Cafestol is present in espresso, French press and Turkish coffee — stronger brews — but not in coffee brewed with paper filters or instant coffee.
Reality check: Stick to a cup of Joe. The research shows that higher amounts of caffeine, such as those found in energy drinks, may increase the risk of high blood pressure and/or irregular heart rhythm.
The fine print: "People can respond very differently to caffeine based on various factors, such as age, medications, underlying health conditions, genetics and how quickly their bodies metabolize it," Gregory M. Marcus, chair of the study's writing group and associate chief of cardiology for research at the University of California, San Francisco Health, said in a statement.
- "That's why it's important to pay attention to how your body responds to caffeine and talk with your healthcare team about what is right for you," Marcus added.
The bottom line: Enjoy an extra cup, skip the spoonful of sugar, but pay attention to how all that caffeine makes you feel.
🗯️ My thought bubble: If they could find out how much coffee is too much to give me a headache, I'd appreciate it. Great, thanks.