New Research Shows Surprising Relationship Between Coffee And Heart Health
The American College of Cardiology just made coffee lovers very happy by releasing the results of its three-part study showing that consuming two to three cups of java per day is associated with lowered risk of heart disease and increased life longevity. Researchers studied data collected from over 500,000 people who were followed over a 10-year period and found that coffee consumption in moderation can be beneficial to the heart along with having other healthful properties.
The first study followed 382,535 people with no known heart disease to see how consuming coffee affected the development of cardiovascular issues and stroke. It showed that two to three daily cups of Joe lowered the risk of heart failure and coronary heart disease by 10% to 15%, with the risk of heart-related death or stroke lower than those participants who kept it to one cup per day.
The second study focused on over 34,000 people who had existing cardiovascular disease, which is usually the group that health care providers worry might have issues with the stimulant effects of coffee. The study found that drinking two to three cups of coffee per day was associated with a lowered risk of death in patients with arrhythmia, and participants with atrial fibrillation (AFib) were "20% less likely to die than non-coffee drinkers."
Despite the benefits, the senior author of the study said people should likely avoid increasing coffee intake over the most beneficial two to three cups daily.
Coffee has many health benefits
The third portion of the study released by The American College of Cardiology breaks down the relationship between coffee and cardiovascular disease based on the type of coffee being consumed, whether it was instant, ground, caffeinated, or decaf. Researchers found that two to three cups of either instant or ground coffee were linked to a lowered risk of blocked arteries, heart failure, stroke, and arrhythmias. Regarding cardiovascular benefits, the study found that caffeinated coffee was preferred over decaf.
Healthline reports that the caffeinated beverages, one of which is consumed daily by 80% of the world's population, often get a bad wrap for their stimulating effects that can actually be more beneficial than once believed. Aside from waking you up in the morning, the caffeine found in coffee can boost your metabolism, improve gut health, and reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases, like type 2 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and some cancers. Caffeinated coffee is also linked to a 16% to 18% lowered risk of heart disease in men and women who consume one to four beverages daily.
Additional studies of a wider swath of the general population are needed to provide more conclusive results, and people should take their individual preferences and health history into account when consuming coffee.