An everyday beverage adored by countless individuals may just be the secret to cutting your chances of heart disease death but timing is everything.
In a study by Tulane University, researchers monitored over 40,000 adults across a decade-plus timespan. They discovered that subjects who partook in a morning coffee had a lower mortality risk from heart disease compared to non-coffee drinkers. Indeed, morning coffee aficionados enjoyed a striking 31 per cent dip in heart disease death risk.
The team, underscoring this correlation, pinpointed significant ties between heavy coffee consumption and a lesser probability of succumbing to the ailment. However, the study reported that this only applied to people who drank their coffee in the morning rather than throughout the day, reports the Telegraph.
Lead researcher Dr Lu Qi shed light on the findings, stating: “Research so far suggests that drinking coffee doesn’t raise the risk of cardiovascular disease, and it seems to lower the risk of some chronic diseases, such as Type 2 diabetes. Given the effects that caffeine has on our bodies, we wanted to see if the time of day when you drink coffee has any impact on heart health,” reports Surrey Live.
Dr Qi also noted, “Our findings indicate that it’s not just whether you drink coffee or how much you drink, but the time of day when you drink coffee that’s important. We don’t typically give advice about timing in our dietary guidance, but perhaps we should be thinking about this in the future.”
Dr Qi has highlighted that while the research doesn’t pinpoint why morning coffee may reduce deaths from cardiovascular disease, one theory is that consuming coffee later could disrupt circadian rhythms and hormone levels, potentially influencing cardiovascular risk factors.
This comes on the heels of other studies indicating coffee’s positive effects on gut health. Last year, nutritionist and functional medicine practitioner Nicola Shubrook spoke to the Telegraph about coffee’s compounds acting as a “prebiotic”.
Moreover, a 2023 study investigating the relationship between the colonic microbiome, coffee, and caffeine discovered a greater microbiome richness in frequent coffee drinkers.
Healthline also notes that coffee might have several other health advantages. Beyond the energy boost, it’s been linked with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and might even boost brain health.
Nonetheless, it’s crucial to acknowledge that caffeine can have less favourable side effects, such as increased blood pressure and more frequent urination. Bupa points out that excessive consumption can lead to issues like irregular heartbeat, anxiety, or insomnia.