Five cups of coffee a day okay for most, may benefit heart health: study
FILE-A man drinks a cup of coffee at a table. (Photo by Britta Pedersen/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Coffee enthusiasts who enjoy this beverage routinely don’t necessarily have to lower their consumption.
A statement from the American Heart Association reveals that drinking roughly five 8-ounce cups of black coffee — is generally safe for most healthy adults and could be linked to a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, heart failure and Type 2 diabetes, according to findings published in a study in the journal Circulation.
The study also revealed that the possible benefits are consistent with drinking plain black coffee instead of coffee beverages filled with sugar, flavored syrups or heavy cream.
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According to the study, since evidence on caffeine derives from studies of coffee drinking, coffee contains various compounds besides caffeine, including chlorogenic acids, diterpenes, trigonelline, and melanoidins. In large cohort studies, associations between coffee intake and risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease have also been observed for decaffeinated coffee, supporting a role for noncaffeine ingredients.
American Heart Association officials also reinforce in the study that coffee should not be combined with energy drinks, which often contain elevated levels of caffeine and other stimulants.
Large amounts of caffeine, specifically from energy drinks and energy shots — have been linked with high blood pressure and irregular heart rhythms.
Researchers also pointed out in the study that caffeine doesn't impact everyone equally. Factors like age, medications, genetics and how fast the body breaks down caffeine influence a person’s tolerance and risk.
Study conclusions on coffee and heart health
Dig deeper:
The study concluded that caffeine has diverse impacts that can affect cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular diseases themselves. However, most studies infer possible protective effects, but this comes from studies of coffee as a "beverage rather than caffeine" in what’s part of studies conducted through observation.
Researchers added that additional research is still needed, specifically since most of the current evidence of consuming more coffee and its correlation to improving heart health is based on observational studies.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by a study published in the journal Circulation which contains statements and content from the American Heart Association on coffee consumption. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.