Black coffee may be good for your heart, studies show

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Drinking one or more cups of plain leaded coffee per day was associated with a reduction in long-term risk of heart failure, according to a review of diet data from three major studies using analytical tools from the American Heart Association.

The advantage did not extend to decaffeinated coffee. Instead, the analysis found an association between decaffeinated coffee and an increased risk of heart failure.

Heart failure occurs when a weakened heart fails to supply the body’s cells with enough blood to get the oxygen needed for the body to function properly. People with heart failure experience fatigue and shortness of breath, and have difficulty walking, climbing stairs, or other daily activities.

“While they cannot prove causation, it is intriguing that these three studies suggest that coffee consumption is associated with a decreased risk of heart failure and that coffee may be part of a healthy diet. ‘it is consumed plain, without added sugar and without dairy products rich in fat. like cream, ”said dietitian Penny Kris-Etherton, past chair of the Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Council Leadership Committee of the American Heart Association, in a statement. She did not participate in the search.

Massive data analysis

The study, published Tuesday in the journal AHA Circulation: Heart Failure, analyzed self-reported dietary information from the original Framingham Heart Study. This study, which began in 1948, recruited more than 5,000 people without diagnosed heart disease who lived in Framingham, Massachusetts. The study followed these people and their offspring for 72 years over three generations.
The new study used cutting-edge analytical tools from the AHA’s Precision Medicine Platform to compare data from Framingham to the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, a longitudinal, multisite biracial study, and to the Cardiovascular Health Study, a 10 year study. -long study of cardiovascular risk in adults over 65 years.

In total, the studies provided dietary information on more than 21,000 American adults.

Compared to people who did not drink coffee, the analysis found that the risk of heart failure over time decreased between 5% and 12% for each cup of coffee consumed each day in the Framingham Heart and Cardiovascular Health studies. .

The risk of heart failure remained the same if you did not drink coffee or a cup per day in the study on the risk of atherosclerosis in communities. But when people drank two or more cups of black coffee a day, the risk was reduced by about 30%, according to the analysis.

“The association between caffeine and reduced risk of heart failure was surprising,” said senior author Dr. David Kao, medical director of the Colorado Center for Personalized Medicine, University of Medicine School of Medicine. Colorado to Aurora.

Coffee is practically a healthy food: myth or fact?

“Coffee and caffeine are often considered by the general population as ‘bad’ for the heart because people associate them with palpitations, high blood pressure, etc. The consistent relationship between increased caffeine intake and decreased risk of heart failure overturns this assumption. “Kao said in a statement.

A little caution

All of these studies have been done with the consumption of black coffee. However, many people add dairy products, sugars, flavorings, or non-dairy creams that are high in calories, added sugars and fat. This likely negates any heart health benefit, the AHA warns.

Also be aware that in most studies, a cup of coffee is only 8 ounces; the standard “tall” coffee mug is double that of 16 ounces.

The healthiest way to brew your coffee - and possibly lengthen your life

The way you prepare your coffee also has health consequences. Unlike filter coffee makers, a French press, Turkish coffee, or the boiled coffee popular in Scandinavian countries fail to catch a compound called cafestol in the oily part of the coffee. Cafestol can increase your bad or LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol.

Caffeine can be dangerous if consumed in excess by certain populations, research has shown. High levels of coffee consumption (more than 4 cups) during pregnancy were associated with low birth weight, premature birth and stillbirths in a 2017 study. For women at higher risk of fractures bone, coffee increased this risk; it was not the same for men.
Previous studies have also suggested that people with sleep problems or uncontrolled diabetes should consult a doctor before adding caffeine to their diet.

And, of course, these benefits don’t apply to children – children and teens shouldn’t drink colas, coffee, energy drinks, or other drinks with any amount of caffeine, according to the American Academy. of Pediatrics.

“The end result: Enjoy coffee in moderation as part of an overall heart-healthy diet that meets recommendations for fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat / fat-free dairy products, and that is. also low in sodium and saturated fat and added sugars, ”Kris-Etherton said.

“Also, it’s important to keep in mind that caffeine is a stimulant and that consuming too much can be problematic – causing nervousness and problems sleeping,” she says.

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