Some recent studies have shown that drinking coffee is not associated with inducing heart disease, but may reduce the risk of heart disease and potentially prolong life. In particular, people who drank coffee daily had a 10%-15% lower risk of coronary heart disease, heart failure, heart rhythm problems, or death.
And whether you choose instant or ground coffee, caffeinated or decaf, there is no clear difference in the prevention of cardiovascular problems. Why is that? How does coffee affect the heart?
Caffeine is one of the most important components in coffee, it stimulates the central nervous system, increases heart rate and contractility. In small doses, caffeine causes the brain to increase excitability and make the heart beat faster, which is also known as the "caffeine effect."
Some studies have also shown that moderate amounts of caffeine can stimulate blood vessel dilation, which improves blood flow to the heart**. In addition, caffeine can also increase alertness, improve memory and mental concentration. These are among the reasons why coffee reduces the risk of heart disease.
However, excessive caffeine intake may adversely affect the heart. Long-term consumption of large amounts of coffee can cause cardiovascular disease, as caffeine can cause an increase in blood pressure, and excessive intake can push it above safe limits.
In addition, caffeine can cause problems such as insomnia, anxiety, irritability, and muscle tension, which may increase the risk of heart disease. Therefore, we need to control our caffeine intake to avoid overdose.
In addition, other components of coffee may also have an effect on the heart. For example, the caffeic acid in coffee can improve heart health by stimulating the heart muscle to contract, increasing cardiac output. In addition, components such as caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline in coffee may also increase blood pressure and heart rate, but more research is needed to determine the exact effects.
Overall, moderate caffeine intake is good for the heart, but excessive intake may have adverse effects. A daily intake of 400 mg of caffeine is relatively safe for healthy adults, but this may vary from person to person.
If you're sensitive to caffeine, or have a medical condition like high blood pressure or heart arrhythmia, it's best to be cautious when drinking coffee. For pregnant and breastfeeding women, it's best to avoid coffee consumption or limit caffeine intake.
Finally, we need to note that the type of coffee and how it is made will also affect the caffeine content and the taste of the coffee. In general, dark roasted coffee has a higher caffeine content, while light roasted coffee has a lower caffeine content.
In addition, the caffeine content of coffee with the addition of milk and sugar will also decrease, while the caffeine content of coffee with the addition of coffee mate will increase. Therefore, we can choose the coffee that suits us according to our tastes and needs.