Here's what some of the most recent research from 2021 suggests thus far.
Today is Coffee Day, so you've probably already gone to your favorite coffee shop and ordered your favorite drink—and maybe even gotten a reasonable price. We thought we'd try to answer a topic that may be on your mind in honor of this beautiful day: Is coffee good for your heart?
To best answer this question, we combed through some of the most recent research studies on coffee and heart health released this year, so you're up to date on what scientists around the world have lately uncovered. We'll go over the results of not one but four coffee studies below.
It has the potential to reduce your risk of heart disease!
According to study author Judit Simon, researcher Ph.D. candidate at the Heart and Vascular Centre, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary, drinking anywhere between a half cup and three cups of coffee per day "was independently associated with lower risks of stroke, death from cardiovascular disease, and death from any cause."
Individuals who drank that much coffee daily had a 12 percent lower chance of dying young from any cause, a 17 percent lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, and a 21 percent lower risk of suffering a stroke.
It does not cause palpitations in the heart.
For many people, too much coffee can make them feel jittery and even worried. One widespread myth regarding coffee is that it might cause heart palpitations, often known as cardiac arrhythmia if you consume too much. According to a recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, this isn't always the case.
After accounting for demographics, lifestyle behaviors, and diseases and conditions that potentially cause heart palpitations, researchers discovered that each additional cup of coffee taken was associated with a 3% lower incidence of arrhythmia. That's not to imply you should down an entire pot of coffee, but if you can handle three cups a day, you shouldn't have any concerns about your heart racing.
It could also benefit your liver.
Aside from possible heart health benefits, new research suggests that coffee may also have liver-protective properties. Coffee users were found to be 21% less likely to have chronic liver disease, 20% less likely to have either chronic liver or fatty liver disease, and 49% less likely to die from chronic liver disease, according to a study published in the journal BMC Public Health in June.
However, too much of a good thing can backfire...
Isn't it true that overeating anything is harmful to your health?
According to a study published in the journal Clinical Nutrition in February of this year, drinking six or more cups of coffee per day may increase the level of lipids (fats) in your blood. This rise in lipids could increase your risk of heart disease dramatically. Researchers suspect that a chemical in coffee called cafestol, which is known to raise cholesterol levels and is extracted from coffee grounds using hot water, is mostly to blame.
It's worth noting, though, that a paper coffee filter usually collects cafestol, so if you still make drip coffee with filters, you could be safe (and drink upwards of six cups of coffee daily).
In conclusion
Caffeine tolerance varies by individual, but it's probably best to limit your intake to three cups a day to reap the heart (and liver!) benefits without becoming jittery or, worse, increasing your risk of cardiovascular disease in the long run.