Posted on 02/19/2021
2 min read
Coffee lovers, you will have to ease off on your favorite drink which, consumed in too large quantities, could be harmful to your heart health. A new Australian study questions the heavy consumption of one of the most popular hot drinks in the world.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of scientific studies have visualized the effects of coffee on health, showing advantages rather than disadvantages. It is difficult to disentangle the true from the false, except as a large number of plants, it should be consumed in moderation to derive the most benefits.
This is what emerges from this first global genetic study conducted by researchers from the University of South Australia. They used data from 362,571 participants from the UK Biobank bank, all aged 37 to 73, relying on a triangulation of phenotypic and genetic approaches to conduct comprehensive analyzes.
“There is certainly a lot of scientific debate on the pros and cons of coffee, but (…) it is essential to fully understand how one of the most consumed drinks in the world can impact our health.“, explains Professor Elina Hyppönen, lead author of the study.
Beware of excess
The finding seems clear, since scientists have found that six or more cups of coffee per day – ie heavy consumption – were associated with an increase in the amount of lipids in the blood; which significantly increased the risk of cardiovascular disease. Importantly, the researchers specify, however, that this association is established on a heavy consumption of coffee in the long term.
It would also be essential, especially for the most vulnerable people, to choose the right coffee. Researchers explain that cafestol, found in coffee beans, is a very potent compound that raises cholesterol. “There is no or very little cafestol in filtered and instant coffee, so in terms of the effects on lipids, these are good coffee choices”, continues the scientist.
A subject that is not so easy to tackle when we know that more than 2.5 billion cups of coffee are consumed every day in the world. Researchers basically plan to aim for excess, especially if you have underlying conditions.
“The implications of this study are potentially vast. In my opinion, it’s especially important for people with high cholesterol or who are worried about getting heart disease to choose carefully the type of coffee they drink. important to note that the coffee-lipid combination depends on the dose – the more unfiltered coffee you drink the more it increases your blood lipids, which puts you at an accumulated risk of heart disease “, says Professor Hyppönen.
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