How Much Coffee Is Good For Heart?
Caffeine intake has been long-term convicted for potential cardiovascular outcomes, specifically coronary heart disease, acute myocardial infarction, irregular heartbeats, heart failure, sudden cardiac arrest, stroke, blood pressure, hypertension, and other effects, including heart rate variability, cerebral blood flow, cardiac output, serum cholesterol levels, and disrupted electrocardiogram (ECG) patterns.
Because coffee can instantly increase heart rate, we have been living with the notion that drinking coffee could trigger or worsen cardiac health. This is where the generalized idea of not having too much coffee comes from.
Interestingly, the current research recommends that daily coffee intake shouldn’t be discouraged. Rather it should be included as a part of a healthy diet for people with or without heart conditions.
Several studies now provide strong evidence for the beneficial effects of the consumption of coffee in protecting certain cardiovascular endpoints instead of worsening heart rate.
The data from 3 new studies on cardiovascular health - Framingham Heart Study (FHS), the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC), and the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) unfold the reduced risk of heart failure in later life with coffee consumption.1
Collectively, these studies involve 10 years of follow-up on more than 21,000 adults who consumed up to three cups of coffee per day.
The studies do not specify any particular coffee or any method of preparation or how strong the coffee is. But the unsweetened black coffee without dairy products should be a healthy choice over sweetened milk base coffee.
Also, these reports do not address the effects of other caffeinated drinks, such as energy drinks, caffeinated teas, soft drinks, or other substances in improving heart conditions.
According to Framingham Heart Study (FHS), the adults who consumed caffeinated coffee had a 43% reduction in deaths due to coronary heart diseases as compared with those who never consumed coffee.
In another study conducted on 21,361adults, it was reported that 2 0r 3 cups of caffeinated coffee per day can effectively lower the risk of atrial fibrillation, blockages in the arteries, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, and long-term heart failures. Provided the coffee should be caffeinated. The long-term heart benefits are not extended to the ones having decaf coffee. 2
In another study, 1 to 4 cups per day of filtered coffee displayed the lowest death rate, whereas drinking more than 9 cups per day of unfiltered coffee displayed the highest death rate. 3
These findings are in sync with current government dietary guidelines on daily consumption of coffee which recommend 3 to 5 cups of coffee per day or up to 400 mg of caffeine per day as safe for heart, cancer, and premature death in healthy adults.4,5
Hence an adequate amount of coffee is safe even for heart patients with extended health benefits till you consume more than 6000mg/day which can result in acute caffeine toxicity.
If you are a Coffeeholic, here are 3 Healthy coffee that you must try:
1. Espresso
Ingredients: Espresso machine, Grinder, Portafilter, Tamper, Shot glass
How to make it?
Step 1. Fill the espresso machine’s reservoir with water and switch your machine on to heat it up.
Step 2. Place a portafilter (espresso basket) in the espresso machine and run the espresso machine for a while to bring water to the front.
Step 3. Take 15 to 20 grams of fresh coffee powder to the portafilter. On average, a single shot of espresso will require 6 to 8 grams of coffee, and a double shot, about 15 grams.
Step 4. Now Tamp down the coffee powder evenly to create a compact disk of espresso in the portafilter.
Step 5. Fix the portafilter in the group head and start brewing.
Step 6. Start infusion and end brewing to get the aromatic espresso shots ready with a caramel-colored layer on the top.
2. Americano
Ingredients: Just espresso and hot water
How to make it?
Step 1. Pour 30 ml espresso into a shot glass.
Step 2. Pour 60 ml of hot water into the coffee mug you intend to drink from.
Step 3. Add the espresso shot into the hot water mug and not the other way around. Adding espresso to the water retains the creamy foam on top of the espresso and also allows the water to evenly temper the espresso, creating a smooth texture of coffee.
3. Good old plain coffee
Ingredients: Manual dripper, fresh coffee powder, and Boiling water
How to make it?
Step 1. Place a dripper lined with a filter on a primed mug.
Step 2. Put the grounded coffee into the dripper
Step 3. Start adding boiling water into the dripper from center to outwards. Allow the coffee to bloom. The process takes 3 mins.
Step 4. Enjoy your bold and delicious cup of coffee.
Connect to DrTrust360 Hypertension management plan for more heart-friendly diet tips.