Coffee May Reduce Heart Disease Risk: How Much is Safe to Drink?
There are these eternal questions: how much coffee is okay to drink per day? Can it be beneficial for your health? In this article, we try to find the answer.
Recent studies suggest that coffee, a popular drink worldwide, may offer significant health benefits when consumed in moderation. A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that regular coffee consumption could lower the risk of developing cardiometabolic conditions like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. However, the key factor appears to be the quantity consumed, with moderate amounts showing the most benefit.
The study, conducted by researchers from Soochow University in China, focused on cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CM), a condition where multiple cardiometabolic diseases occur together, posing a much higher risk of death than a single illness. Researchers analyzed data from the UK Biobank, involving over 360,000 participants who were free from these diseases at the start of the study. The results showed that moderate coffee consumption could significantly lower the risk of developing CM.
According to the study, drinking 2-3 cups of coffee per day (about 200-300 grams of caffeine) was associated with a 40% lower risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases. This benefit was observed when compared to those who consumed no coffee or minimal amounts of caffeine. It suggests that moderate caffeine intake could provide a protective effect against these serious conditions, reducing the likelihood of developing heart disease, stroke, or diabetes.
The study emphasizes that moderation is crucial. While 2-3 cups of coffee seemed to offer the best health benefits, drinking more than this may not provide additional protection and could even lead to negative side effects, such as jitteriness or increased heart rate. People who are sensitive to caffeine might need to consume less to avoid discomfort or adverse effects. In conclusion, moderate coffee consumption could be a simple yet effective way to reduce the risk of cardiometabolic diseases, especially in those without preexisting conditions. For most people, drinking a couple of cups of coffee daily could be a heart-healthy habit, but it's important to keep intake within safe limits and avoid excessive amounts that could do more harm than good.