Ever wondered if your daily cup of coffee is good for you?
A new study from Italy gives coffee lovers a reason to celebrate. According to researchers, drinking two or three cups of coffee a day is linked to lower blood pressure.
This isn’t just about the blood pressure in your arms or legs but also the blood pressure close to your heart. So, if you’re a coffee fan, read on to find out how your favorite brew could be doing wonders for your health.
Coffee: A Global Love Affair
Before we dive into the study, let’s talk a bit about coffee itself. It’s not just popular in Italy; it’s loved worldwide. In just the years 2020 and 2021, people around the globe drank nearly 10 million tons of coffee.
That’s a whole lot of love for this brown liquid! For years, many people thought coffee was bad for your health. But recent research shows that regular coffee drinkers might actually be onto something good.
Studies suggest that coffee could lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and even some liver and brain issues. So, what’s the deal with coffee and blood pressure?
The Heart of the Matter: The Italian Study Explained
Researchers from the University of Bologna and Sant’Orsola Polyclinic in Italy took a close look at coffee’s effects on blood pressure. They studied over 1,500 men and women from Italy.
These people were part of a larger health study that keeps track of heart health in the Italian population.
What the researchers found was pretty exciting: people who drink two or three cups of coffee a day had lower blood pressure than those who drank less or none at all.
Arrigo Cicero, a professor involved in the study, said, “We found that regular coffee drinkers had lower blood pressure—not just in their arms and legs but also close to their heart.”
This was the first time this link was found in Italian people. But the interesting thing is, it wasn’t just the caffeine in coffee doing the work.
It’s Not Just About Caffeine
You might think it’s the caffeine in coffee that makes your heart pump faster and raises your blood pressure. But this study found something different.
“Caffeine is just one piece of the puzzle,” said Cicero. “Even people who drink decaf coffee saw good effects on their blood pressure.”
So, while caffeine can make blood pressure go up a bit, other parts of the coffee seem to balance things out, leading to a net positive effect on blood pressure.
What Does This Mean for You?
If you’re someone who loves coffee, this is more good news. It adds to the growing evidence that coffee might be more friend than foe when it comes to your health.
But, like with anything, don’t go overboard. Two to three cups seem to be the sweet spot. So go ahead, enjoy your coffee—your heart may thank you for it.
If you care about heart health, please read studies that vitamin K helps cut heart disease risk by a third, and a year of exercise reversed worrisome heart failure.
For more information about high blood pressure, please see recent studies about more efficient ways to treat high blood pressure, and 12 foods that lower blood pressure.
The research findings can be found in Nutrients.
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