suggests that drinking 3-plus cups of coffee per day may actually lower blood pressure.
ACoffee is the most popular beverage in the world, with more than 2 billion cups being consumed each day. If you have ever felt the second, third, or fourth cup of coffee give you the jitters, then you might be curious about how coffee affects blood pressure and overall health.
It raises blood pressure temporarily, according to the conventional wisdom. A new study published in however, challenges this belief. NutrientsThe opposite was true, according to a study. Could the benefits of coffee include lowering blood pressure?
The research on blood pressure, heart health and coffee
Studies dating back decades have shown that coffee is not a good choice for your cardiovascular health. This could be as much due to the brewing process as the coffee itself. In the old days, coffee was brewed using a percolator rather than a coffeemaker with a filter. Filtering removes oils and substances such as cafestol from coffee. This has been shown to be linked with high cholesterol and heart disease.
Recent data has shown that coffee can have multiple health benefits, including for your blood pressure and your heart health.
A recent study by Nutrients This is a sub-analysis of participants in the Brisighella heart in study (BHS). BHS was established in 1972 in the Brisighella region, northern Italy. Researchers examined the effects of coffee on blood pressure, and other markers of heart health, using self-reported data from 783 men and 783 ladies about their coffee consumption. The study authors found that people who consumed three to five cups of coffee per day had lower blood pressure than those who did not drink any coffee. The blood pressure of people who drank only two cups per day was lower than that of non-drinkers.
These findings were reported by the study authors. However, they also noted any data omissions that could affect their conclusions. The size of the coffee cups per drink was not taken into account. The same goes for brewing methods and bean origins. The researchers believed that decaf was the preferred brew, based on North Italian cultural norms. However, this assumption was not supported. Lifestyle habits that might have an impact on blood pressure were not also recorded.
This study supports the benefits of coffee. However, it is important to be aware of its limitations before you reach for your third cup. This study was done in Italy where one cup of coffee is only a fraction of what it would be in the United States. Three cups of Italian coffee might be equivalent to one American-sized Starbucks,” Anais Hausvater MD, a New York City-based cardiologist, says.
Caffeine and blood pressure
We naturally think of coffee when we think about caffeine. Mayo Clinic says that even people with regular blood pressure readings, a cup of coffee can cause a temporary, but substantial, rise in blood pressure.
It is not clear why caffeine causes this effect. It is not clear why caffeine has this effect. However, it is evident that different people experience caffeine differently. The amount of caffeine consumed plays a significant role in blood pressure. Caffeinated coffee can raise blood pressure in those who don’t drink it regularly. This happens by increasing blood vessel tightening hormones and raising stress hormones. According to Jeffrey M. Tyler MD, a cardiologist at Providence St. Joseph Hospital in California, coffee doesn’t seem to raise blood pressure.
Dr. Hausvater says that coffee can raise blood pressure by activating the “fight or flight” response in those who aren’t sensitive to caffeine.
Other compounds in coffee
But coffee is more than caffeine. This simple and delicious brew contains over 1,000 chemical compounds, many of which are good for your heart health.
Heather Shenkman MD, a cardiologist and 1MD Nutrition formulator, says that the Italian study showed lower blood pressure. While some of these compounds can raise blood pressure, others can lower it.
What can a coffee lover do?
Based on this data, is it a good idea to drink more coffee if you have concerns about your blood pressure?
Dr. Tyler points out that the Italian study only showed a link between higher coffee intake and lower blood pressure. However, it did not prove that coffee was to blame.
Dr. Tyler doesn’t change his general recommendation to his patients. He says that if you like coffee, it should be consumed in moderate or small amounts (upto four to five cups per day). All my patients with heart disease or not should avoid energy drinks, which often contain two to four times the caffeine of coffee. He suggests that you should eliminate these energy drinks if you want to make a difference.
Dr. Hausvater warns that some coffee may have adverse effects on the heart. For example, it can increase the risk of developing abnormal heart rhythms. If you have a medical condition, it is important to speak to your doctor about the amount of coffee you should be drinking.
Bottom line: You can do what you want. You can continue to enjoy coffee as much as you want if you find it agreeable and you love it. However, if you are looking for quick ways to lower your blood pressure, increasing your coffee intake is not the best option. You should instead look at lifestyle changes that could be beneficial such as exercising and eating healthy foods. Talk to your healthcare provider about medication options that may be beneficial.