Coffee and its heart health benefits: drinking 2 to 3 cups a day helps you live longer, even if you have cardiovascular disease, new studies show
- Drinking two to three cups of coffee daily has been linked to a reduced risk of heart problems, and of death from any cause, in three new studies
- Coffee beans are packed with antioxidants and flavonoids that protect our cells against damage and reduce the risks of heart disease
Across Asia, the demand for coffee is predicted to increase for years to come. According to a 2021 report by Hong Kong-based market strategy consultancy Mersol & Luo, Japan leads the way, with coffee sales worth US$34.45 billion in 2020. China was Asia’s second-largest coffee market, with US$14.25 billion in sales, while South Korea was the third-largest (US$12.6 billion).
The report noted that Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau were also excellent markets, enjoying annual growth of more than five per cent.
With coffee’s rising popularity, it might come as good news that it may protect your heart. Three recent studies found that drinking two to three cups a day was associated with a 10 to 15 per cent lower risk of developing heart disease, heart failure, a heart rhythm problem, or dying for any reason. These trends held true for people with and without cardiovascular disease.
“Because coffee can increase the heart rate, some people worry that drinking it could trigger or worsen certain heart issues,” said Dr Peter Kistler, professor and head of arrhythmia research at the Alfred Hospital and the Baker Heart Institute in Melbourne, Australia and the study’s senior author.
