Drinking coffee may be good for you, but a new study suggests that there is a limit

Drinking at least six cups of coffee a day can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and outweigh the other benefits, researchers at the University of South Australia found in a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

"To maintain a healthy heart and healthy blood pressure, people must limit their coffee to less than six cups a day – according to our data, the critical point was the tipping point where caffeine began to negatively affect the risk cardiovascular care, "said co-author Elina. Hyppönen of the Australian Center for Precision Health said in a press release.

The study examined the medical records and diets of the British biobank of nearly 350,000 people aged 37 to 73 years, as well as participants with a variant of the gene, CYP1A2, which allows those who possess it to metabolize caffeine faster than those do not. According to The Takeout, coffee consumption levels were probably self-reported, indicating that many people do not consider that 16-ounce travel mugs count for more than a cup of coffee.

Participants who drank six or more cups of coffee had a 22% chance of developing heart disease compared to those who had only two or more daily, regardless of whether they had the gene variant or not CYP1A2. The researchers said this could be due to the fact that excessive caffeine consumption can lead to high blood pressure, which often precedes heart disease. The World Health Organization considers cardiovascular diseases as the leading cause of death in the world, despite its avoidable nature.

But the researchers also found that those who preferred decaf or did not drink coffee were not much better off. Compared to those who consume coffee daily in moderation, decaffeinated drinkers had a higher heart disease rate of 7% and non-drinkers a higher heart disease rate of 11%.

This is consistent with previous research suggesting that the antioxidants found in coffee could reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes to the appropriate consumption levels, which could be around 400 mg per day, reported Health .com. In 2018, a German study also found that up to four to five cups of espresso a day could improve heart health by making proteins from older blood vessel cells in mice and human tissues longer. performing.

The authors of this new study say that, as is often the case, moderation and knowing your limits are essential to your health.

"Most people would agree that if you drink a lot of coffee, you might feel nervous, irritable or maybe even [nauseated] – This is because caffeine helps your body work faster and harder, but it also probably suggests that you have reached your limit for the moment, "said Hyppönen.