You’re not alone if you find that your morning cannot begin without a cup of coffee. Of U.S. adults, around 75% drink at least one cup of coffee daily. Fortunately, that cup of joe may help guard your heart in addition to providing the much-needed energy boost. One study linked at least a 40% decreased risk of developing certain heart-related diseases to daily consumption of three cups of coffee, or 200 to 300 milligrammes of caffeine.
Given that heart disease continues to be the No. 1 cause of mortality for men and women in the United States, this is maybe excellent news for those who enjoy coffee even if additional study is needed. Prepare a cup and then read on to see why coffee can be beneficial for your heart.
The association between coffee and heart disease is not straightforward. A stimulant, caffeine speeds your central nervous system and can raise your heart rate. This makes it long believed to be detrimental for your heart. Research paints a different picture, though. Particularly when combined with a heart-healthy diet, moderate coffee drinking seems to be truly good for heart health.
It can help to reduce inflammation.
When you consider foods high in antioxidants, coffee most likely ranks lowest on your list. Still, your morning drink is loaded with anti-inflammatory agents. Angie Konegni, owner of Radish Nutrition LLC and licensed dietitian, says “Coffee contains specific antioxidants like chlorogenic acids and caffeine which are shown to help reduce inflammation in our bodies.” While some inflammation is unavoidable, general heart health depends on reducing levels of chronic inflammation.
It Could Reduce Blood Pressure
Ever get jittery following coffee? Coffee’s caffeine concentration might cause your heart to feel as though it is racing momentarily. Research indicates, however, that these transient rises may not always translate into consistently higher blood pressure levels—especially in habitual coffee drinkers. Regular drinkers of 3 to 4 cups of coffee daily had lower blood pressure readings than non-coffee drinkers or those who drank more than 4 cups daily per one study.
At least some of Coffee’s blood pressure-lowering effects can be ascribed to its great antioxidant content. Konegni says that coffee’s antioxidants can “boost the elasticity of our blood vessels, which helps improve circulation and manage blood pressure where needed.”
Still, keep in mind that only little coffee drinking has been proved to be beneficial and that personal reactions to caffeine may differ. If you have questions about how coffee might raise or lower your blood pressure, you should speak with a healthcare provider.
It Could Aid in Your Hydration Maintenance.
Though this is not always the case, coffee is often thought to be dehydrating. Although the caffeine in coffee is a diuretic—that is, it promotes urine output—the diuretic effect of the caffeine in a regular serving of coffee is modest—especially if you already have a tolerance for caffeine.
Heart health depends on you keeping hydrated. Apart from lessening the effort your heart has to pump blood across your body, dehydration could also raise blood pressure.
Those of whom drink coffee, rejoice! Your preferred drink for giving your stride more vitality could also help to reduce your heart disease risk. Between two and three cups of coffee daily seems to be the sweet spot for best benefits, preferably consumed in the morning rather than the afternoon. Just try to minimize sweet or high-fat creamers.
