Many adults kick-start their day with either a cup of coffee or green tea.
Coffee’s popularity mainly stems from its energy-boosting properties, while green tea is cherished for its calming effects. But how do these drinks impact our heart health?
Let’s delve deeper.
The Caffeine Factor
Both coffee and green tea contain caffeine, which makes us feel more awake.
While an 8-ounce cup of green or black tea has 30-50 milligrams of caffeine, the same serving of coffee packs a stronger punch with 80 to 100 milligrams, as noted by the FDA.
What Earlier Studies Say About Coffee
Historically, research has shown some positives for coffee lovers. For instance:
Drinking a cup a day might improve the chances of survival post a heart attack.
It could even lower the likelihood of heart attacks or strokes in healthy folks.
Consistent coffee drinking might decrease the risk of chronic illnesses, act as a mood booster, and enhance alertness.
Yet, there’s a caveat. Too much coffee might lead to adverse effects like raised blood pressure and anxiety.
In recent research, blood pressure levels were categorized into five groups, ranging from ‘optimal and normal’ to ‘severe hypertension.’
Over 18,500 individuals between 40-79 years were monitored for nearly 19 years.
Key Findings
Of the participants, 842 succumbed to heart-related diseases. The study unveiled that:
Drinking two or more cups of coffee daily could heighten the risk of heart disease death in those with very high blood pressure.
A daily cup posed no such risks, regardless of one’s blood pressure.
Interestingly, green tea didn’t seem to affect heart disease mortality, irrespective of one’s blood pressure.
This suggests that those with extremely high blood pressure should perhaps go easy on the coffee, considering they might be more susceptible to the adverse effects of caffeine.
Why Green Tea Gets the Green Light
Why is green tea deemed safer? The answer might lie in polyphenols. These plant-based micronutrients are renowned for their health-boosting traits.
They act as both protectors against cell damage and warriors against inflammation, making green tea a potentially healthier choice.
In a Nutshell
While coffee does come with its set of benefits, moderation is key, especially for those with heightened blood pressure levels.
Green tea seems to be a universally safer bet, courtesy of its lower caffeine levels and the added advantage of polyphenols.
This enlightening study, championed by Hiroyasu Iso, furthers our understanding of the dietary choices we make and their implications on our well-being.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies about how fasting may help reverse high blood pressure, and beetroot juice could help reduce blood pressure
For more information about blood pressure control, please see recent studies about teas that may help reduce high blood pressure, and results showing this recommended high blood pressure drug may have dangerous side effects.
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