Coffee is one of the world’s most popular drinks. Millions of people start their mornings with a cup of coffee, and many enjoy several cups throughout the day.
For years, however, scientists and doctors have debated whether coffee is good or bad for health.
Some people worry that caffeine may raise blood pressure or put extra stress on the heart. Others believe that coffee may offer health benefits. A new study from Semmelweis University in Hungary has added encouraging evidence to the discussion.
The researchers found that drinking a moderate amount of coffee each day may help protect the heart and lower the risk of stroke and death from heart disease. Their findings suggest that for many people, enjoying a few cups of coffee every day could be part of a healthy lifestyle.
To investigate the effects of coffee on health, the research team used information from the UK Biobank, one of the world’s largest long-term health studies. The UK Biobank contains detailed medical and lifestyle information from hundreds of thousands of people in the United Kingdom.
The study included 468,629 adults who did not have signs of heart disease when the research began. The participants were around 56 years old on average, and slightly more than half were women. Researchers followed these individuals for 10 to 15 years, carefully tracking their health and comparing it with their coffee-drinking habits.
The participants were divided into three groups. About 22 percent did not drink coffee regularly. Nearly 58 percent drank between half a cup and three cups of coffee per day, making them light-to-moderate coffee drinkers. Around 19 percent drank more than three cups every day.
The results were encouraging. Compared with people who did not regularly drink coffee, those who drank moderate amounts had a 12 percent lower risk of dying from any cause. They also had a 17 percent lower risk of dying from heart disease and a 21 percent lower risk of having a stroke.
These findings suggest that moderate coffee drinking may provide benefits that go beyond simply making people feel more alert. Drinking coffee in moderation may actually help support long-term heart and brain health.
The researchers wanted to understand why this might happen. To explore the question further, they examined heart scans from a smaller group of about 30,000 participants. These scans were taken using magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, a technology that produces detailed pictures of organs inside the body.
The heart scans showed that regular coffee drinkers tended to have healthier hearts than people who did not drink coffee. Their hearts generally had better structure and function. These findings suggest that coffee may help slow some of the changes that normally occur as the heart ages.
Scientists are still trying to understand exactly why coffee may have these benefits. Coffee contains hundreds of natural compounds in addition to caffeine.
Some of these substances have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which may help protect blood vessels and improve heart function. However, more research is needed before scientists can fully explain the relationship.
The researchers, including Dr. Judit Simon, say that although the findings are promising, people should not make major changes to their diets based on one study alone. Everyone’s health situation is different.
Some people may be sensitive to caffeine or have medical conditions that require them to limit coffee consumption. It is always a good idea to discuss dietary changes with a healthcare professional.
The study was presented at the ESC Congress 2021 and attracted considerable attention because it suggests that a simple daily habit may play a role in protecting the heart and brain. While coffee is not a magic solution for preventing disease, this research offers reassuring news for many coffee lovers.
For most healthy adults, enjoying one to three cups of coffee each day may not only be safe but could also contribute to better long-term health. Of course, coffee works best as part of an overall healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, a balanced diet, enough sleep, and avoiding smoking.
If you care about heart health, please read studies that apple juice could benefit your heart health, and Yogurt may help lower the death risks in heart disease.
For more information about health, please see recent studies that Vitamin D deficiency can increase heart disease risk, and results showing Zinc and vitamin B6 linked to lower death risk in heart disease.
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