If you’re one of the 66% of Americans who drinks coffee, you likely can’t imagine starting your day without it. For many, having a cup of coffee is so ingrained into their morning routine that they have an automatic coffee maker that is pre-scheduled to brew a pot so it’s ready to drink as soon as they wake up.
Considering that it’s daily rituals impact our health the most, it’s important to know how your coffee habit impacts your heart. According to cardiologists, it all depends on how you have it.
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Is Coffee Good for Heart Health?
When it comes to how black coffee (with nothing in it) impacts heart health, scientific research is mixed. “There have been many studies looking at coffee, with mixed results. We do know that coffee can raise blood pressure and increase the stiffness of arteries, both of which are bad for your heart. However, one study found that drinking coffee in moderation could decrease the risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other heart health risk factors, says Dr. Edo Paz, MD, MPH, a cardiologist and the Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs at Hello Heart.
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With this conflicting data in mind, Dr. Paz says he recommends drinking coffee in moderation, capping it at one cup a day. Dr. Sam Setareh, MD, MS, FACC, the Director of Clinical Cardiology and Cardiovascular Performance at Beverly Hills Cardiovascular, also recommends drinking black coffee in moderation.
“Studies suggest that one to two cups of black coffee daily can improve cardiovascular health by lowering the risk of heart failure and promoting vascular function due to its antioxidant properties. However, excessive caffeine can increase heart rate and blood pressure, especially in sensitive individuals,” he says.
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The Worst Type of Coffee for Heart Health
While scientific studies do show that drinking black coffee in moderation can benefit cardiovascular health, both cardiologists say that how you prepare your coffee matters. Both doctors say that coffee drinks that contain sugar are absolutely not good for heart health.
“Highly sweetened specialty drinks like caramel macchiatos or blended frappuccinos do more harm than good, when it comes to heart health. These beverages often contain hundreds of calories, large amounts of sugar and unhealthy fats, which can negate any potential heart-healthy benefits of coffee,” Dr. Setareh says.
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Dr. Paz agrees, saying, “I would advise staying away from any coffee drinks that have high sugar content. Flavored coffees with lots of syrup would fall in this category and they are generally not heart-healthy.”
Take a caramel macchiato for example. A grande Starbucks caramel macchiato has 33 grams of added sugar, which is more sugar than the American Heart Association recommends consuming in an entire day. By the way, it’s not just coffees you buy at cafes that can be high in sugar; Dr. Paz says that ready-to-drink coffee products can be high in sugar too.
Both doctors say that having a sugar-sweetened coffee every day can have detrimental health effects. “Added sugar has low nutritional value and can cause a lot of health problems. Too much sugar can damage blood vessels, lead to buildup of plaque inside the arteries and increase your risk of cardiac disease. It can also lead to other heart disease risk factors, like diabetes or high blood pressure,” Dr. Paz says.
Dr. Setareh says that the combination of sugar and caffeine in coffee drinks can be especially harmful. “Combining sugar with caffeine can create a stress response, spiking blood pressure and heart rate. Over time, these factors contribute to inflammation, plaque formation and an elevated risk of heart disease,” he says.
How To Make Your Coffee Habit More Heart Healthy-Friendly
If you prefer sugar-sweetened coffees to black coffee, Dr. Paz recommends making your coffee drink at home instead of buying a pre-made latte product or your coffee from a cafe. That way, you can control how much sugar or other ingredients, like creamer, you add. Instead of sugar, consider adding cinnamon to your coffee instead, which is beneficial for heart health.
“If you enjoy coffee, opt for simpler preparations like black coffee or espresso, or add unsweetened plant-based milk,” Dr. Setareh says, offering his advice on how to keep your coffee habit heart-healthy.
Dr. Paz reiterates the importance of drinking coffee in moderation. Even if you like black coffee, drinking cup after cup of it all day can end up being detrimental to your health. “I enjoy a cup every morning to help me start my day and then I transition to water and other low-sugar, non-caffeinated drinks for the rest of the day. It’s all about keeping a balance,” he says.
As long as you keep these tips in mind, you can rest assured that when you have your morning cup of coffee, you are starting the day by doing something that benefits your heart instead of working against it. And that’s a pretty great way to start the day.
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Sources
- Dr. Edo Paz, MD, MPH, cardiologist and the Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs at Hello Heart
- Dr. Sam Setareh, MD, MS, FACC, Director of Clinical Cardiology and Cardiovascular Performance at Beverly Hills Cardiovascular
