A study from Norway has found that coffee drinkers who quit drinking caffeinated filtered coffee cut their blood levels of cholesterol and the amino acid homocysteine.
High levels of both substances are known risk factors for heart disease.
Previous research found a similar effect with boiled coffee, which is not filtered and therefore contains more of the naturally occurring organic compounds found in coffee grounds. Some of these compounds, called terpenoids, are known to increase cholesterol levels.
But the question of whether coffee increases heart disease risk has been controversial, with some, but not all, studies showing a link between coffee drinking and an increased risk.
It is not only unfiltered coffee, but notably normal filtered coffee that affects cholesterol and homocysteine, researchers found.
If your cholesterol or homocysteine level is too high and you are a heavy coffee drinker you should consider reducing your consumption, the study authors suggest.
The researchers evaluated blood samples from nearly 200 non-smoking coffee drinkers. The otherwise healthy volunteers were randomly split into three groups. One group consumed no coffee, another drank between 1 and 3 cups of coffee per day and the third group drank more than 4 cups of coffee each day.
The study period lasted for 6 weeks and each participant gave blood samples at the beginning of the study, after 3 weeks and at the end of the study period.
All of the coffee drinkers used standard coffee brewing methods, including coffee filters, the authors note.
After 6 weeks, participants who abstained from consuming coffee showed a 10% decrease in homocysteine levels. The findings indicate that the terpenoids that cause an elevated concentration of total cholesterol are only partly removed by a coffee filter.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition August 23, 2001;74:302-307
It is interesting to note that this study provides a possible mechanism for it's association with an increased risk of heart disease. Drinking coffee may interfere with your body's ability to keep homocysteine and cholesterol levels in check, most likely by inhibiting the action of the vitamins folate, B12 or B6.
Additionally, my comments from this past February are still valid:
Caffeine is the most widely used drug in the world. While I believe that coffee and caffeine are far less dangerous than fruit juice or soda, it is still wise to limit, and if possible, eliminate its use.
This is becoming increasingly clear for women, as coffee should NEVER be consumed during pregnancy. It also appears that coffee consumption is associated with increased estrogen levels, which means an increase for breast and endometrial cancer.
Coffee has been previously associated with increased risk of stroke and rheumatoid arthritis.
One can use a product called Water Joe that is basically bottled water with caffeine added to help you wean off of the coffee. If you stop coffee cold turkey you will likely develop a severe headache from going through caffeine withdrawal.
If you simply MUST drink coffee here are a few tips to help reduce the chances of harmful effects:
Use organic coffee - Coffee is a heavily sprayed crop, so drinking organic coffee might reduce or eliminate the exposure to toxic herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers. The only drawback is that the countries where coffee is produced probably have less control and monitoring for compliance to organic practices. You will also be helping to protect the health of the people working in the coffee fields, as you will be helping to reduce their toxic exposure as well.
Avoid sugar and/or milk - These are actually much worse for you than the coffee itself. Don't compound the detrimental health effects by adding milk or sugar to your coffee.
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