Coffee lovers know their morning brew is good, but new research reveals that it’s good for our hearts and brains, too. A new study finds that it can have a protective effect against type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, strokes and other cardiometabolic diseases.
Researchers with Soochow University in China analyzed data from the U.K. Biobank, a long-term study with more than 500-thousand participants between the ages of 37 and 73. They focused on around 350-thousand people with specific caffeine and/or coffee habits and found:
- Consuming a moderate amount of caffeine is associated with a 48.1% lower risk of those diseases, compared to those who drink less than a cup a day.
- The sweet spot is drinking about three cups of coffee or caffeinated tea a day.
- Coffee drinkers have the lowest risk, nearly 50% less, while tea drinkers and folks who get their caffeine from both coffee and tea are about 40% less likely to develop cardiometabolic disease.
While this goes for most people, there are some who should limit their caffeine intake, including pregnant people and those with pre-existing heart conditions. Researchers also point out that if you add a bunch of sugar and cream to your mug, you’ll probably counteract the benefits. They advise sticking with black coffee or a little milk and limiting yourself to four cups a day.
Source: Newsweek
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