It might seem like health experts are constantly changing their recommendations about which foods and drinks are good or bad for us. For example, it has been suggested for decades that drinking certain types of alcohol may support better heart health; currently, however, the tide has turned and the consensus is that alcoholic beverages, which can contribute to the two main causes of death—cardiovascular disease and cancer—are unhealthy for anyone in any amount. Gone are the days when your cardiologist may have been a willing accomplice in a daily indulgence of one or two glasses of red wine.
While brewskis may be out, cold brews, it seems, are very much in*. On July 20th, the American Heart Association published a lengthy formal position on coffee in the journal Circulation. While there are confounding variables—some coffee drinkers live healthier lives and the effects of java depends on genetics—multiple studies seem to show drinking coffee has broad benefits for cardiovascular health.
It is immediately obvious when you experience your very first cup of joe that the caffeine in coffee is a heady stimulant. The caffeine alkaloid can elevate blood pressure, and caffeine-infused energy drinks have the potential to dangerously spike both systolic and diastolic numbers. Green coffee beans, however, which boast over 1000 bioactive compounds in addition to caffeine, might actually help to lower blood pressure. Researchers believe this could be a function of the chlorogenic acid in coffee beans (the bean is actually the seed of the coffee cherry).
If that is surprising, consider the findings of studies that show that cafestol, a natural diterpene in coffee which raises cholesterol, can be easily rendered out coffee with a paper filter. Bad news for those who love espressos, French press brews, or the unguent mud of a Greek coffee, but for anyone who likes an old school drip coffee maker or favors a pour-over brew with a paper cone, you can relish an invigorating morning, or afternoon, cup without worrying about your cholesterol. When brewing coffee, details matter, it seems.
Stranger still are the results of both observational studies and a large randomized trial that suggest coffee consumption does not aggravate arrhythmias and could even be beneficial. Given that the caffeine is a stimulant and stimulants can increase heart rate, a generation of cardiologists considered it standard practice to advise those with AFib or palpitations to avoid coffee. Today, however, some of the most respected groups in North American cardiology have reversed their positions and specifically admonish doctors to avoid telling patients to eschew the brew.
But wait, there’s more. Drinking up to 6 cups of coffee daily has no negative impact on the risk of coronary artery disease, while the risk of heart failure was found to be lowest in those who enjoyed 4 daily cups. Even the risk of stroke appears to improve with regular coffee consumption—3-4 cups per day impressively dropped the risk of stroke by 21%.
Perhaps most perplexing of all are the studies which found that the risk of type 2 diabetes can be curbed by a coffee habit. The effect is dose dependent, with a 20% reduction for those who drink 3.5 cups a day and a whopping 30% decrease in risk when drinking 5 daily cups. Since lab studies have found poorer glucose tolerance in coffee drinkers, the paradox has left researchers scratching their heads. The answer seems to lie in the rich chemical complexity of coffee, leading scientists to posit that the magnesium, chromium, and chlorogenic acid buried in the bean may explain its magical ability to protect against diabetes.
One note of caution: coffee drinking will affect the ventricles and can increase the frequency of premature ventricular contractions. So, if your heart is all aflutter, confirm that the issue lies in the atria and not the ventricles before guzzling a grande. For others with concerns about their heart health but who want their coffee fix, indulging in a few cups per day might actually constitute a healthy habit. If your cholesterol is elevated, be mindful of the specific brewing method, and all coffee drinkers should stick to high-quality, fresh (organic, if possible) coffee, while respecting the benefits of the bean by avoiding adulterating their cups with loads of sugar, fat, and/or chemical additives.
Link to the Circulation journal article: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001454.
*This blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended to prevent, diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider before making major changes to your diet and lifestyle which could impact your health and wellness.