Put the kettle on. A new study has found that drinking coffee – and plenty of it – is not harmful to the heart, as had previously been suggested.
Researchers at Queen Mary University, London, found that drinking up to 25 cups of coffee a day was no worse for the arteries than drinking less than a single cup.
While these new findings are good news for coffee drinkers, they follow other recent studies that have suggested it may even help us live longer.
According to one of the studies – one the largest ever conducted into coffee drinking – just one 350ml cup of the black stuff a day cuts the risk of dying early by 12 per cent. Up that to three cups a day and the risk reduces further, down by 18 per cent.
“Pro-rata, that’s as if that cup of coffee puts, on average, around nine minutes on a man’s life, and around three minutes on a woman’s,” said Prof Sir David Spiegelhalter, Winton Professor for the Public Understanding of Risk at the University of Cambridge. “So perhaps we should relax and enjoy it.”
This latest research is just the latest in a slew of reports about the supposed health benefits of the brew. In May 2017, researchers at the University of Southampton and the University of Edinburgh found that people who consume two cups daily have a 35 per cent lower risk of developing hepatocellular cancer (HCC), the most common form of primary liver cancer.
And there have been plenty more. From type 2 diabetes through to Parkinson’s disease, the headlines would suggest that coffee is a magic elixir for all sorts of ills. But is it really?
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Here, we have scooped up some of the coffee research to try to sort the beans from the granules when it comes to health claims. It’s not an easy task. According to Harvard School of Public Health, coffee contains hundreds of different compounds: some are good for human health; others aren’t.
This complexity accounts for the fact that scientific opinion about coffee has ‘flip-flopped’ in the past. The good news is that your coffee addiction probably is not bad for you (apart from the impact on your wallet) – especially at moderate levels. However, that’s not to say all it’s effects are beneficial…
Beans means… a longer life?
Beans means… a longer life? Credit: Reuters
Heart disease
A Korean study published in the journal Heart in 2017 showed that drinking 3 to 5 cups of coffee a day (what they called “moderate consumption”) was associated with less calcium build-up in the arteries. But headlines declaring that coffee “prevents heart attacks” were wrong, because the study did not find that coffee drinking confers actual benefits. (The British Heart Foundation also urged caution about interpreting results from a survey carried out in South Korea, where people enjoy a different diet and lifestyle to those in the UK.) A recent Harvard study suggests moderate coffee consumption reduces the risk of dying prematurely from heart disease. But some other studies actually link coffee to risk factors like raised blood pressure and cholesterol, so more research is needed in this area.
Miracle brew? Drinking coffee has been linked to less clogging of the arteries Credit: Alamy
Mortality
A Harvard School of Public Health review of coffee research recently found that drinking up to six cups of coffee per day was safe and did not increase the chances of dying from any particular cause, including cancer or heart disease. But closer reading of the study reveals it does not give the green light to rampant coffee consumption. The research involved men and women in their 40s and 50s who were healthy to start with, and was based on standard 240ml cups of coffee containing 100mg of caffeine with a little milk or sugar. Many consumers buy larger cups of coffee containing as much as 330mg of caffeine per serve, which are often loaded with sugary flavourings and/or whipped cream.
Type 2 diabetes
An American Diabetes Association review of coffee research in 2015 found “strong” evidence that drinking 6 cups of coffee per day could reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by 33 per cent for both men and women, and the new Harvard study backs this up. However, the link is still unclear. Studies show the results are roughly the same for both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, suggesting an ingredient other than caffeine is responsible. Some studies also suggest that people who have diabetes and struggle to control their glucose levels might be better opting for decaffeinated coffee.
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Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis
Various studies have linked higher caffeine intake to a “significantly” reduced risk of developing diseases that involve degeneration of brains cells including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis. But researchers say the findings do not prove that coffee fights these conditions and that other factors might be involved. Again, more research is needed before doctors actually recommend drinking coffee to reduce the risk of developing these conditions.
Types of coffee
While research pointing to the potential health benefits of coffee is growing, it’s worth considering that not all cups of java are the same. According to Harvard School of Public Health, coffee contains cafestol, a “potent” stimulator of cholesterol levels, which is strained out in coffee made using filter papers but present in coffee made other ways, such as in a caffetière or espresso machine. People concerned about their cholesterol should opt for filtered coffee, say the experts.
Coffee culture: stick to coffee made in a caffetière or espresso machine if you want the most benefits Credit: Alamy
Sleep
It’s not a myth: coffee really does disrupt your sleep. Studies show that to enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep, avoid drinking coffee for at least six hours before going to bed.
Other health risks
Experts point out that coffee drinking often goes hand in hand with cigarette smoking, while some studies also show that people who drink lots of coffee tend to exercise less. Pregnant women in particular are advised to restrict their coffee intake to one cup per day. The precise effect is unclear, but studies appear to confirm that caffeine passes through the placenta to be absorbed by the foetus.