Researchers from UiT The Arctic University of Norway discovered that drinking espresso coffee may affect cholesterol levels in men and women differently.
Coffee is a popular drink made from roasted coffee beans, and it contains caffeine, which can give you energy and reduce fatigue by changing the levels of certain brain chemicals.
Coffee also has some vitamins and minerals, but it can raise cholesterol levels due to its chemical compounds, and the way it’s brewed affects the level of these compounds.
The study aimed to see how different coffee brewing methods, particularly espresso, affected cholesterol levels.
Espresso is a type of coffee made by forcing hot water through finely-ground coffee beans under high pressure. It has a strong and concentrated flavor and is usually served in small amounts, such as a shot.
Espresso is used as a base for many other coffee drinks, such as lattes, cappuccinos, and Americanos. It is a popular type of coffee consumed worldwide.
The research used data from a population study involving 21,083 people aged 40 or older in Northern Norway.
The results showed that drinking 3 to 5 cups of espresso daily was associated with increased total cholesterol levels in the body compared to drinking no espresso.
Drinking over 6 cups of boiled/plunger coffee daily was also linked to increased total cholesterol levels compared to drinking none.
Drinking over 6 cups of filtered coffee daily was linked to higher total cholesterol levels in women but not in men.
Drinking instant coffee showed a strong trend but did not have a significant association with cholesterol levels.
The researchers concluded that drinking espresso coffee had a stronger effect on increasing total cholesterol in men than in women.
Boiled/plunger coffee increased total cholesterol in both men and women, while filtered coffee only had a small effect on increasing total cholesterol in women.
The study has a significant impact on clinical practice, as coffee is the most commonly consumed central stimulant worldwide.
Even small health effects of coffee can have considerable consequences because of its high consumption.
Understanding the effects of espresso coffee on cholesterol can improve recommendations regarding coffee drinking.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about how eating eggs can help reduce heart disease risk, and herbal supplements could harm your heart rhythm.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about coconut sugar that could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness, and anti-inflammatory diet could help prevent fatty liver disease.
The research is published in Open Heart and was conducted by Åsne Lirhus Svatun et al.
Copyright © 2023 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
