A recent study suggests that how people drink tea and coffee could influence their chances of developing high blood pressure. This research, conducted by Choy-Lye Chei and colleagues, was published in The European Journal of Nutrition.
Caffeine, a natural stimulant found in coffee, tea, cola, cocoa, and some herbal drinks like guarana and yerba mate, affects the brain, heart, and nervous system. It boosts alertness by increasing activity in the nervous system and raising levels of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.
Because of these effects, scientists have long debated whether coffee and tea influence blood pressure.
To explore this, researchers analyzed data from 63,257 Chinese adults in Singapore, aged 45-74. They collected information on their tea and coffee drinking habits, along with other lifestyle details, between 1993 and 1998.
The participants were then followed for several years, with two health check-ins between 1999-2004 and 2006-2010. During this period, 13,658 people developed high blood pressure.
The findings showed that people who drank at least three cups of coffee daily had a lower risk of high blood pressure than those who only drank one cup per day. On the other hand, those who drank black or green tea every day had a slightly higher risk compared to those who drank tea less often.
The researchers also looked at overall caffeine intake. They found that people consuming large amounts of caffeine (300 mg or more per day) had a 16% higher risk of developing high blood pressure compared to those who consumed very little (less than 50 mg per day).
Interestingly, the study suggests that drinking either very little coffee (less than one cup per week) or more than three cups per day may help lower the risk of high blood pressure. In contrast, drinking moderate amounts, like one cup daily, might not be as beneficial.
One possible explanation is that caffeine itself may raise blood pressure, which could explain why daily tea drinkers and moderate coffee drinkers had a slightly higher risk. However, coffee contains other compounds that may balance out these effects when consumed in higher amounts.
The researchers believe that these compounds might help counteract the impact of caffeine, but more studies are needed to confirm this.
In summary, this study suggests that the way people drink coffee and tea may influence their blood pressure risk. While coffee in small or high amounts may be linked to a lower risk, daily tea drinking might slightly increase the risk.
However, more research is needed to understand the reasons behind these effects and to determine the healthiest way to consume these popular beverages.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about blood pressure drug that may increase risk of sudden cardiac arrest, and these teas could help reduce high blood pressure.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about nutrient that could strongly lower high blood pressure, and results showing this novel antioxidant may help reverse blood vessels aging by 20 years.
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