Three coffees a day cuts the risk of heart disease and strokes
According to a new major study, those who drink three to five cups a day are less likely to suffer potential heart attacks or strokes
Caffeine: A major new study says coffee could be key to a healthy heart
Drinking three cups of coffee a day can slash your risk of a heart attack, new research reveals.
There has previously been much debate on the effect of the beverage on cardiovascular health.But a major study published in respected journal Heart has found those who drink three to five cups a day are less likely to develop clogged arteries which could lead to heart attacks or strokes.
People who have between three and five cups a day had the least amount of coronary calcium in their arteries.
Having too much of this can be an early indicator of coronary atherosclerosis - a potentially deadly condition where arteries become clogged up by fatty substances known as plaques or atheroma.
This causes arteries to harden and narrow, leading to blood clots which can trigger a heart attack or a stroke.
Lifesaver? Starbucks reportedly sells approximately 4 billion cups of coffee a year
The researchers studied more than 25,000 men and women with an average age of 41.
Their coffee consumption was categorised as less than one cup a day, one to three cups, three to five cups and five or more per day.
Their findings showed the calcium ratios were 0.77 for people who had less than one cup per day, 0.66 for those having one to three cups every day, 0.59 for those consuming three to five cups per day, and 0.81 for people having at least five cups or more every day compared with non-coffee drinkers.
The findings suggest that those having at least five cups a day face a higher risk of a heart attack or stroke than those having one to three cups or less than one cup a day.
The U-shaped findings meant those who drink one to three coffees a day had the second least prevalence of arteries that had clogged up.
The research, led by the Kangbuk Samsung Hospital in Seoul, South Korea, was published online in Heart.
The authors concluded: “Our study adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that coffee consumption might be inversely associated with CVD (cardiovascular disease) risk.
“Further research is warranted to confirm our findings and establish the biological basis of coffee’s potential preventive effects on coronary artery disease.”