Is coffee really good for cardiovascular health?

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

According to research published in September by the World Endocrine Society, regular, moderate caffeine consumption may help prevent the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke.

However, this effect only occurs when people consume a moderate amount of caffeine each day. If consumed in excessive amounts, caffeine can have the opposite effect, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Specifically, researchers used data from 360,000 people aged 37-73 from the UK Biobank, comparing those who consumed no caffeine or less than 100 mg of caffeine per day with those who consumed 200-300 mg of caffeine per day.

The results showed that the second group had a 41-48% lower risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

Consuming coffee in moderation may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. (Illustrative image: Unsplash).

Speaking to Medical News Today , nutritionist Melanie Murphy Richter said that caffeine may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity and boosting fat metabolism to support overall cardiovascular 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 believed to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which may be related to glucose and lipid metabolism, helping to limit obesity.

However, this does not mean that consuming too much tea and coffee can be beneficial to health.

In a study presented at the ACC Asia 2024 conference in August, scientists reported finding that people who consistently consume excessive amounts of caffeine five days a week or more have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

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

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

The lead researcher, Dr. Nency Kagathara of the Internal Medicine Department at Zydus Hospital (India), said that caffeine affects the autonomic nervous system. Excessive and frequent caffeine consumption can put healthy individuals at risk of developing hypertension and other cardiovascular events.

According to a study published in the Journal of Stroke in September, carbonated drinks, fruit juices, and beverages with excessive caffeine may increase the risk of stroke and brain hemorrhage. However, the risks associated with these drinks vary 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 may 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