Many people around the world enjoy coffee every day, but there has been much debate about its effects on health. A new study from Semmelweis University suggests that drinking up to three cups of coffee per day may actually help protect the heart and reduce the risk of stroke and fatal heart disease.
Researchers analyzed data from a large group of people in the UK, following them for 10 to 15 years to see how coffee consumption affected their heart health and overall risk of death. The study included nearly 470,000 participants, all of whom were free from heart disease when they joined the study. The average age of participants was 56, and more than half were women.
The participants were divided into three groups based on their coffee-drinking habits:
- Non-coffee drinkers (22%) – people who did not drink coffee regularly.
- Light-to-moderate coffee drinkers (58%) – those who drank between half a cup and three cups per day.
- Heavy coffee drinkers (19%) – those who drank more than three cups per day.
The results showed that drinking coffee in moderate amounts was linked to significant health benefits. Compared to people who did not drink coffee, those in the light-to-moderate group had:
- A 12% lower risk of dying from any cause
- A 17% lower risk of dying from heart disease
- A 21% lower risk of having a stroke
The researchers also analyzed data from a smaller group of participants who underwent heart imaging using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This method provides a detailed picture of the heart’s size and function.
They found that people who drank coffee daily had healthier and better-functioning hearts compared to those who did not drink coffee regularly. These results suggest that moderate coffee drinking might slow down some of the natural aging effects on the heart.
One important finding of the study was that even people who drank a lot of coffee did not have an increased risk of heart disease or early death. This suggests that coffee is generally safe for heart health, even for those who consume it daily. However, the biggest benefits were seen in people who drank between half a cup and three cups per day.
Scientists are still trying to understand exactly how coffee improves heart health. Some believe that certain compounds in coffee may help reduce inflammation, improve blood vessel function, or positively affect the heart’s structure. However, more research is needed to confirm these effects.
This study adds to growing evidence that coffee, when consumed in moderation, can be part of a heart-healthy lifestyle. If you enjoy drinking coffee, you may be doing something good for your heart. However, it is still important to maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and manage other risk factors such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
The study was conducted by Dr. Judit Simon and her team and was published in a scientific journal. These findings suggest that for most people, a few cups of coffee a day could be a simple and enjoyable way to support heart health.
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 health information, please see recent studies about supplements that could help prevent heart disease, stroke, and results showing this food ingredient may strongly increase heart disease death risk.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
