Is coffee really good for heart health?

(Dan Tri) - Coffee has long been believed to reduce fatigue, increase alertness and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Is this true?

Regular moderate caffeine consumption may help prevent the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke, according to research published in September by the International Society of Endocrinology.

However, this effect only occurs when people consume a moderate amount of caffeine every day. In case of excessive intake, caffeine can cause the opposite effect, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Specifically, the researchers used data from 360,000 people aged 37-73 from the UK Biobank, comparing those who did not consume any caffeine or consumed less than 100 mg of caffeine per day with those who consumed 200-300 mg of caffeine per day.

Results showed that the second group had a 41-48% lower risk of cardiovascular disease.

Moderate coffee consumption can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. (Illustration: Unsplash).

Speaking to Medical News Today , nutritionist Melanie Murphy Richter, said caffeine can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by enhancing insulin sensitivity as well as promoting fat metabolism to support overall heart health.

According to Dr. Cheng-Han Chen, Director of the PCA Medical Center (USA), both coffee and tea are beverages containing hundreds of bioactive compounds.

Besides caffeine, compounds such as flavonoids, alkaloids and polyphenols in tea and coffee are also thought to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which may be involved in glucose and lipid metabolism, helping to limit obesity.

However, this does not mean that consuming too much tea and coffee can bring health benefits.

In a study presented at the ACC Asia Conference 2024 in August, scientists said they found that people who consumed too much caffeine continuously for 5 days a week had a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

Accordingly, doctors define "too much caffeine" as equivalent to about 400 mg/day, equivalent to 4 cups of coffee, 2 cans of energy drinks and 10 cans of soft drinks.

People who consumed at least 400 mg of caffeine per day for five consecutive days had an increase in heart rate and blood pressure over time. This was more pronounced in people who consumed 600 mg of caffeine per day.

Lead researcher Dr Nency Kagathara, Department of Internal Medicine, Zydus Hospital (India), said that caffeine affects the autonomic nervous system. Excessive caffeine consumption at high frequency can put healthy people at risk of hypertension and other cardiovascular events.

Carbonated drinks, fruit juices, and caffeinated beverages may increase the risk of stroke and brain hemorrhage, according to a study published in the journal Stroke in September. However, the risks associated with these drinks varied depending on the population and geographic location of the participants.

According to data collected from participants in 32 countries, drinking more than four cups of coffee a day can increase the risk of stroke by up to 37%.

Dieu Linh

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/ca-phe-co-thuc-su-tot-cho-suc-khoe-tim-mach-20241209003000251.htm