Being one of the most consumed beverages at global, research on effects of coffee on cardiac health has remained under research at different levels. The latest search has termed balanced intake of coffee as having protective benefits but declared excessive caffeine consumption hazardous for health.
The latest research shedding light on coffee’s potential impact on cardiovascular health, sparking renewed interest and nuanced perspectives.
Daily caffeine consumption of 200-300 mg i-e 2-3 cups lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, and stroke by up to 48%, said founding a study from the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Melanie Murphy Richter, a registered dietitian highlighted caffeine’s role in enhancing insulin sensitivity, which supports heart health. We can get potential benefits from coffee’s other compounds like flavonoids and polyphenols, noted the interventional cardiologist Dr. Cheng-Han Chen.
As per another study presented at the ACC Asia 2024 Conference in India, high caffeine consumption (around 400 mg or four cups of coffee daily) can elevate risk of hypertension and cardiovascular events. Chronic caffeine intake could impact the autonomic nervous system, raising heart disease risks, warned leading researcher Dr. Nency Kagathara.
Journal of Stroke published a research which stated that more than four cups of coffee daily may increase stroke risk by 37%. However, moderate coffee and tea intake (3-4 cups of black tea daily) was associated with a reduced stroke risk, showing regional differences in outcomes.
Queen Mary University of London in its study reported no significant differences in arterial stiffness between individuals consuming high or low coffee quantities. This suggests that moderate to high coffee intake may not harm vascular health as once feared. The researchers stated consuming five cups coffee daily as average take and said that some participants drink up to 25 cups.
Hailing from the British Heart Foundation, Professor Metin Avkiran from emphasized that while coffee’s effects on heart health vary, the recent findings offer reassurance against fears of arterial stiffness from regular coffee intake.
Still, moderation remains key. Dr. Christopher Yi, a vascular surgeon, advised that “moderation is safer than excessiveness” due to coffee’s complex effects.
These findings underscore that while coffee may provide certain health benefits, excessive consumption could negate them, especially for those with existing heart conditions or hypertension. Researchers continue to explore safe caffeine limits to guide health-conscious coffee drinkers.
