New research reveals surprising way to lower your heart disease risk

Really? You're that fucking late to the game?

I do coffee all day, takes that long to get in a 12 cup pot of coffee. This won't change my habit, it's mainly to reduce my dementia and Parkinsons risk and no one knows the amounts for that.

I'm still doing a 12 cup pot of coffee daily to prevent Parkinsons and frailty! Much more important than any problems it can cause.

How coffee protects against Parkinson’s Aug. 2014 

Coffee May Lower Your Risk of Dementia Feb. 2013

Coffee drinkers rejoice! Drinking coffee could lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease 

And this: Coffee's Phenylindanes Fight Alzheimer's Plaque December 2018

New research suggests drinking coffee may reduce the risk of frailty May 2025

I think I'm in this category:  I never get the jitters or flushed skin.

Genetics determine how much coffee you can drink before it goes wrong

I'm doing a 12 cup pot of coffee a day with full fat milk to lessen my chances of dementia and Parkinsons. Tell me EXACTLY how much coffee to drink for that and I'll change. Yep, that is a lot more than the 400mg. suggested limit, I don't care! Preventing dementia and Parkinsons is vastly more important than whatever problems it can cause! 

Of course, your fuckingly incompetent? doctor did nothing with this from 3+ years ago! And still hasn't created a 24 hour coffee station

Dementia risk could drop by drinking just one shot daily of common beverage  August 2023

This line is great: The findings indicate that even the Espresso Martini cocktail contains the espresso's beneficial compounds - and can contribute to staving off dementia.

The latest here: 

New research reveals surprising way to lower your heart disease risk

If you’re a coffee lover, this news will surely perk you up. According to the American Heart Association’s recent scientific statement in Circulation, most adults can safely consume up to five, 8-ounce cups of caffeinated coffee (equal to about 400 mg of caffeine) a day without harming your heart or increasing your risk of cardiovascular disease.

The scientists also say for some people, that third, fourth, or fifth cup may decrease the risk of some cardiovascular conditions, including stroke, heart failure, heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure) and atrial fibrillation, along with Type 2 diabetes.

These findings are reassuring because they finally dispel the long-standing myth that coffee is detrimental to cardiovascular health, says Craig Basman, M.D., a structural and interventional cardiologist and associate director of Structural and Congenital Heart Disease at Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) in Hackensack, NJ.

“The conventional guidance, based on earlier studies and the existing literature, was to limit caffeine intake to one to two cups a day,” he explains. “But now we’re seeing that moderate coffee consumption may actually provide cardioprotective benefits, and adding an extra cup or two daily doesn’t appear to increase cardiovascular risk, including arrhythmia (an abnormal or irregular heart rhythm) risk, in healthy adults,” says Dr. Basman.

Related video: How much coffee per day is safe? Here's the answer. (WATN Memphis)Bibhu Mohanty, M.D., a structural cardiologist and an associate professor at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa, agrees. He believes the AHA statement acknowledges and gives a broad recommendation that’s good for most people based on existing data, all without pushing any extremes. statement acknowledges and gives a broad recommendation that’s good for most people based on existing data, all without pushing any extremes.

“This is the most definitive statement coming from a body as authoritative as the American Heart Association,” says Dr. Mohanty. “What they’ve distilled is in the 3 to 5 cup range, you’re not going to hurt yourself or add to your cardiovascular risk.”

Here’s more of the research findings and how those drinking a little extra Joe every day may keep some cardiovascular issues, and more, at bay.

How might coffee protect your heart?

Coffee beans, harvested from coffee trees, are the seeds that grow inside a fruit called the “coffee cherry.” Like other plant-based foods, coffee offers a multitude of positive properties. For example, according to many studies, consuming plant-based foods can significantly reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, some types of cancers and all-cause mortality.

What is it about coffee’s content that might account for a healthier ticker? It may be due to the flavonoids in the beans. “A lot of plant-based products have a variety of flavonoids (bioactive compounds with powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities) that impact blood vessel tone and how well they can dilate,” says Dr. Mohanty. “If the lining of blood vessels is allowed to properly dilate, it can allow for more blood flow to the heart, which can be very important if a person has plaque buildup in their arteries.”

Dr. Mohanty also says research has shown that flavonoids contribute to improving your high-density lipoprotein (HDL), known as the “good” type of cholesterol, and decreasing your low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad” cholesterol levels. “Flavonoids can shift the ratio of HDL and LDL cholesterol so it’s going in a good direction,” says Dr. Mohanty.

A higher intake of flavonoids has also been found to lower the risk of hypertension. One study in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine reported those people who had the highest total flavonoid intake were 25% less likely to have high blood pressure compared to the participants with the lowest flavonoid intake.

“Unfiltered coffee can raise unwanted cholesterol whereas filtered coffee cannot,” Dr. Basman says. Why? By using a mesh or paper filter, it prevents certain negative compounds like cafestol, a natural oil that raises LDL levels, from making its way into your coffee.

Adding any extras to your brew can also interfere or cancel out any cardiovascular protection. “The health benefits are quickly lost when you start adding fillers, such as sugar, cream, milk or flavored syrups,” explains Dr. Basman. “You’re adding things containing chemicals and/or fat that’s not necessarily healthy for the heart. For instance, cream or whole milk may raise your cholesterol.”

The paper’s scientists also note adding sugar or dairy products to your coffee can substantially increase calorie intake. This can of course result in extra weight gain, which can potentially increase your risk of developing conditions such as obesity and diabetes, both of which could lead to heart problems.

But Dr. Basman says don’t sweat it too much if you don’t want to drink your coffee straight. “Although the healthiest way to consume coffee is generally black, I’m not overly concerned about a modest amount of milk or sugar having a significant negative metabolic effect,” he says. “As long as it’s not in excessive quantities, it’s unlikely to meaningfully offset the cardiovascular benefits we’re seeing.”

What about other caffeinated drinks?

It's important to note the research looked at caffeinated black coffee and emphasize these possible cardiovascular benefits don’t apply to caffeinated sodas or those keep-you-awake energy drinks, the latter of which can have whopping amounts of caffeine.

“Individually, these drinks have 3 to 10 times more caffeine than a cup of coffee, which if taken in excess, can pose potentially serious problems, such as heart palpitations, arrhythmias and high blood pressure,” warns Dr. Mohanty.

The bottom line

The researchers stress when it comes to caffeine consumption, there’s no “one-size-fits-all” strategy. Individuals can respond differently to caffeine based on an array of factors, including age, medications, underlying health conditions, how quickly their body metabolizes it and even genetics. The scientists also underscore the importance of paying attention to how you respond to caffeine and talking to your doctor if drinking more coffee doesn’t feel right.

However, for many java enthusiasts, there’s no need to feel guilty for indulging in those extra cups. Dr. Mohanty says he’s happy to know people can enjoy their caffeinated coffee and have some guidance on a specific amount of consumption that’s safe. “The paper gives a very fair assessment that consuming within that mid-range of 3 to 5 cups a day is okay and may have positive effects on your heart health.”

After all, coffee is more than just a drink to wake you up; it’s a beverage that brings people together. “Coffee is a big part of our lives both socially and culturally, and no one is trying to take that away from us,” says Dr. Mohanty.