A recent study suggests that the way people drink tea and coffee could influence their risk of developing high blood pressure. The research, led by Choy-Lye Chei and published in The European Journal of Nutrition, analyzed data from over 63,000 Chinese adults in Singapore and found some surprising patterns.
Caffeine is a natural stimulant found in coffee, tea, cola, cocoa, guarana, and yerba mate. It increases activity in the brain and nervous system, boosts heart rate, and raises levels of stress-related hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. Because of its effects on the body, caffeine has long been debated as a possible cause of high blood pressure.
To better understand this link, researchers collected information on coffee and tea consumption, along with other lifestyle factors, from participants aged 45 to 74. Over an average follow-up period of 9.5 years, they identified more than 13,600 cases of high blood pressure.
The results showed that people who drank three or more cups of coffee per day had a lower risk of developing high blood pressure than those who drank only one cup per day. However, people who drank black or green tea daily had a slightly higher risk of high blood pressure compared to those who drank tea less often.
The study also found a pattern between caffeine intake and blood pressure risk. Those who consumed the highest amount of caffeine (300 mg or more per day) had a 16% higher risk of developing high blood pressure compared to those who consumed the least caffeine (less than 50 mg per day).
Interestingly, the findings suggest that drinking very little coffee (less than one cup per week) or drinking three or more cups per day may help lower the risk of high blood pressure. The researchers believe that caffeine may be responsible for the increased risk seen in daily tea drinkers and those who consumed only one cup of coffee per day.
They also propose that coffee, when consumed in larger amounts, may contain other compounds that counteract the effects of caffeine and help regulate blood pressure. However, more research is needed to confirm this idea.
Overall, this study highlights that the way people consume tea and coffee—not just how much they drink—could play a role in their long-term heart health.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and natural coconut sugar could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies about How to eat your way to healthy blood pressure and results showing that Modified traditional Chinese cuisine can lower blood pressure.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
