It’s good news for coffee loers, as your daily cuppa may help reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). A study published in the European Journal of Preventitive Cardiology suggests that regular coffee consumption is linked to increased longevity. In fact, making this a daily habit, especially drinking more than one cup, could be beneficial for your heart health.
The benefits aren’t limited to one type of coffee, either. The study examined three varieties – ground, instant, and decaffeinated. Comparing the health outcomes of coffee drinkers to non-drinkers, researchers looked at how daily coffee intake related to conditions such as heart disease, heart failure, stroke, irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias), and overall mortality.
The study tracked 449,563 participants, with an average age of 58 (55.3% of them women), over a period of approximately 12.5 years. Findings showed that drinking 1 to 5 cups of ground or instant coffee per day was associated with a reduced risk of arrhythmia, though this link did not apply to decaf. However, all three types of coffee were associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, with the most significant benefits observed at 2 to 3 cups per day.
The study’s conclusion read: “In this large prospective cohort study, consumption of instant, ground, and decaffeinated coffee subtypes, particularly at 2–3 cups/day, was associated with significant reductions in incident CVD and mortality. Arrhythmia reduction was seen with caffeinated but not decaffeinated coffee. Mild–moderate coffee intake of all types should not be discouraged but rather considered part of a healthy lifestyle.”
Professor Peter Kistler of the Baker Heart and Diabetes Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia, was behind the study. He said: “In this large, observational study, ground, instant and decaffeinated coffee were associated with equivalent reductions in the incidence of cardiovascular disease and death from cardiovascular disease or any cause. The results suggest that mild to moderate intake of ground, instant and decaffeinated coffee should be considered part of a healthy lifestyle.”
