SerpApi.Org
It’s a good day for chain coffee drinkers. A new statement from the American Heart Association, published in the scientific journal Circulation, found that drinking up to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day—roughly the equivalent of up to five 8-ounce cups of caffeinated coffee—is safe for most adults and may even be linked to certain cardiovascular benefits.
The finding aligns with previous research suggesting that low-to-moderate coffee consumption may be associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease mortality. But there are some important caveats: the benefits don’t apply to people consuming high doses of caffeine above the FDA-recommended 400 milligrams per day, or to people loading their coffee with added sugars, cream, or fillers.
“In our review of the most recent research, for most adults, intake of up to 400 mg of caffeine/day, the equivalent of 5 cups of caffeinated coffee per day without added sugars or fillers, is safe and does not increase cardiovascular risk,” Gregory M. Marcus, M.D., M.A.S., FAHA, chair of the statement’s volunteer writing group, said in the AHA release. “However, high doses of caffeine, such as those found in energy drinks including energy shots, may have harmful effects on the heart and should be avoided.”
In particular, caffeinated coffee without any added sugars, flavors, or cream was linked to a lower risk of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, heart failure, and some irregular heart rhythms. Adding ingredients such as sugar and cream may reduce the coffee’s potential health benefits. And there is still a limit to keep in mind: drinking more than 400 milligrams of caffeine per day could increase the risk of heart-related issues.
Researchers also noted that it’s difficult to pinpoint whether the potential cardiovascular benefits come from caffeine itself or from other compounds in coffee.
“Experimental studies suggest that the bioactive compounds in coffee may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which may help explain some health benefits,” the AHA said. “It’s also difficult to separate the effects of caffeine from other ingredients usually added to coffee, such as milk, cream, flavored syrups and/or sugar. In addition, most studies on caffeine are observational, meaning they cannot prove cause and effect.”
The AHA also stressed that there is no “one size fits all” approach to safe caffeine consumption. People respond to caffeine differently, so it’s important to pay attention to how your body reacts and talk to a healthcare provider about what makes sense for you.
So, while the statement is encouraging for coffee drinkers, more research is still needed to fully understand caffeine’s impact on cardiovascular health.
