Drinking up to five cups of coffee a day could come with health benefits, according to a new report
Research by the American Heart Association (AHA), published on Monday in the journal Circulation, concluded drinking instant and filtered coffee regularly may be linked to lower risk of stroke, diabetes and heart failure
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Although these benefits are limited to paper-filtered and instant coffee and not espresso, which is used to make popular flat whites, skip cappuccinos and lattes, Dr Jennifer Miao, cardiologist and ABC News Medical Unit Fellow, explained
Unfiltered options such as these retain a compound called cafestol, the report stated, which can raise low-density lipoprotein (LDL), otherwise known as “bad” cholesterol, which can clog arteries
The findings also distinguished between natural coffee beans and synthetic caffeine
The report concluded that according to the evidence gathered, “habitual moderate coffee consumption can be part of a healthy lifestyle” and that up to five cups a day was “safe for most adults” and “associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease, including coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure, and AF (Atrial fibrillation), as well as hypertension and type 2 diabetes”
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Dr Samantha Gardener, Research Fellow from The University of Western Australia, told nine.com.au her own research at the McCusker Alzheimer’s Research Foundation has shown coffee has similar health benefits
“Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages worldwide, and emerging evidence suggests it may have benefits for both cardiovascular and brain health,” Gardener said
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“Coffee contains hundreds of bioactive compounds, including caffeine and polyphenols, which may influence pathways involved in inflammation, ageing and vascular health
“Because cardiovascular health is closely linked with brain health, these effects may contribute to healthier cognitive ageing
“Our research has shown that coffee intake is associated with slower cognitive decline in older adults, although coffee is only one part of a broader healthy lifestyle that includes a balanced diet, regular physical activity, good sleep and management of cardiovascular risk factors.”
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However, Dr Gardener warned against increasing coffee intake to five cups a day based on this evidence
She said while the broader body of evidence suggests moderate coffee consumption can be part of a healthy lifestyle, the optimal amount likely differs between individuals depending on factors such as caffeine sensitivity, how an individual’s body metabolises stimulants, sleep, and underlying health conditions including pregnancy, medications, anxiety, heart rhythm disorders
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“Rather than focusing on reaching five cups a day, it’s more important to consider coffee as one component of an overall healthy lifestyle,” she said
“Regular physical activity, a healthy dietary pattern, good sleep, not smoking, and managing cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cholesterol have much stronger evidence for reducing dementia risk.”
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