Drinks ready to serve at a cafe (file image) (Image: Getty)
Doctors now believe that coffee may be the key to heart health, as per a new scientific statement put out by the American Heart Association (AHA).
Up to five cups of coffee a day is safe for most adults, and regular coffee consumption may in fact lower the risk of stroke, diabetes, and even heart failure, says a report published Monday in medical journal Circulation. The latest findings address years of conflicting advice on the topic of caffeine and the heart, medical expert and board-certified cardiologist Dr Jennifer Miao claims.
“Coffee is potentially linked to lower risks of type two diabetes, stroke, and heart failure, though its relationship with blood pressure is complex and data isn’t entirely consistent across the board,” Dr Miao said.
Person holding a coffee cup (FILE) (Image: Getty)
Doctors have advised people with heart issues to avoid stimulants for decades. However, this comprehensive study may turn what we know about the heart and its relation to caffeine on its head, all by distinguishing the difference natural coffee beans and synthetic caffeine.
Older guidelines relied on lower-quality studies, ABC medical expert Dr. Yonathan Daniel claims. But this latest release by the AHA integrates recent clinical trials showing that, even for patients who have undergone procedures to address heart rhythm irregularities, daily coffee consumption may actually cut the risk of that irregularity returning by 39 per cent.
Habitual coffee consumption was also associated with a 20 per cent to 30 per cent lower risk of developing type two diabetes.
Drinks like Monster Energy have been found to have detrimental impacts on one’s heart (Image: Getty)
But how you take your daily brew does make a difference. The heart-healthy links apply only to paper-filtered or instant coffee. Real coffee – think coffee made via a French press, an espresso, or a Turkish coffee – retain a natural compound called cafestol, with raises low-density lipoprotein (LDL). LDL is, in layman’s terms, the “bad” cholesterol that can clog arteries over time.
Additionally, the positive heart associations do not translate over to synthetic caffeinated beverages like energy drinks, shots, or pills. High-caffeine energy drinks are consistently linked to cardiovascular harm, the AHA says. These products are associated with sudden spikes in blood pressure and acute episodes of irregular heart rhythms, even in healthy adults.
“The AHA distinguishes between coffee and energy drinks, which can pose significant cardiovascular harm,” said Dr Miao. “In large amounts, energy drinks can trigger life-threatening heart rhythm issues and even cardiac arrest.”
But, at the end of the day, five cups a day of instant coffee may still not be right for your body. Your ideal caffeine limit influenced by your genetics thanks to inherited variations in a liver enzyme gene called CYP1A2.
That enzyme dictates how fast your body can metabolise stimulants. Some people may be fine running on 400 milligrams of caffeine – or, three to five cups of coffee – while others may experience sleep disruption or blood pressure spikes with far less caffeine in their system. So, listen to your body to determine what is right for you.
And, as always, anyone with an underlying heart problem or existing risks of developing heart disease or stroke should talk to their doctor about what amount of coffee or caffeine may be safe for them to consume. Everyone’s sensitivity is different, so if you have any underlying conditions or concerns, talk to your doctor.