You may want to stop preparing that next cup of coffee. Researchers just found the perfect time to say it is too much to take another cup. A new study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, shows that drinking six or more coffee a day could negatively affect the body. Too much coffee could lead to a 22 percent increase in the risk of having heart disease. The researchers from the University of South Australia conducted the study amid the growing rates of people suffering from cardiovascular disease in the country. To date, estimates show one person dies from the disease every 12 minutes. The World Health Organization also considers heart diseases as among the leading causes of death across the world. However, the condition is also one of the most preventable. The research team said their study confirms that excess caffeine contributes to cardiovascular disease, particularly high blood pressure. The findings show that six cups are the tipping point where caffeine may start to negatively affect cardiovascular risk. "Most people would agree that if you drink a lot of coffee, you might feel jittery, irritable or perhaps even nauseas - that's because caffeine helps your body work faster and harder, but it is also likely to suggest that you may have reached your limit for the time being,” Elina Hyppönen, a researcher at the University of South Australia, said in a statement. She then suggested that people can maintain a healthy heart and a healthy blood pressure if they limit their coffee to fewer than six cups a day. The findings come from the analysis of data from the UK Biobank that included 347,077 participants aged 37 to 73 years old. Researchers analyzed how the caffeine-metabolizing gene, called CYP1A2, processes caffeine in the body. Hyppönen said they found carriers of the fast-processing gene variation being four times quicker at metabolizing caffeine. But her team noted their research does not support the belief that some people could safely consume more caffeine, more frequently and without feeling any negative health effects. "An estimated three billion cups of coffee are enjoyed every day around the world," the researcher said. "Knowing the limits of what's good for you and what's not is imperative. As with many things, it's all about moderation; overindulge and your health will pay for it." Source
Coffee: How many cups are too much to drink a day? Date: May 10, 2019 Source: University of South Australia Summary: A morning coffee is an essential for many people looking to kick start their day. But while the humble coffee may be a vital feature of the daily grind, how much is too much? Share: Adobe Stock Latte, cappuccino or short black, a morning coffee is an essential for many people looking to kick start their day. But while the humble coffee may be a vital feature of the daily grind, how much is too much? While the pros and cons of drinking coffee have been debated for decades, new research from the University of South Australia reveals that drinking six or more coffees a day can be detrimental to your health, increasing your risk of heart disease by up to 22 per cent. In Australia, one in six people are affected by cardiovascular disease. It is a major cause of death with one person dying from the disease every 12 minutes. According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death, yet one of the most preventable. Investigating the association of long-term coffee consumption and cardiovascular disease, UniSA researchers Dr Ang Zhou and Professor Elina Hyppönen of the Australian Centre for Precision Health say their research confirms the point at which excess caffeine can cause high blood pressure, a precursor to heart disease. This is the first time an upper limit has been placed on safe coffee consumption and cardiovascular health. "Coffee is the most commonly consumed stimulant in the world -- it wakes us up, boosts our energy and helps us focus -- but people are always asking 'How much caffeine is too much?'," Prof Hyppönen says. "Most people would agree that if you drink a lot of coffee, you might feel jittery, irritable or perhaps even nauseas -- that's because caffeine helps your body work faster and harder, but it is also likely to suggest that you may have reached your limit for the time being. "We also know that risk of cardiovascular disease increases with high blood pressure, a known consequence of excess caffeine consumption. "In order to maintain a healthy heart and a healthy blood pressure, people must limit their coffees to fewer than six cups a day -- based on our data six was the tipping point where caffeine started to negatively affect cardiovascular risk." Using UK Biobank data of 347,077 participants aged 37-73 years, the study explored the ability of the caffeine-metabolizing gene (CYP1A2) to better process caffeine, identifying increased risks of cardiovascular disease in line with coffee consumption and genetic variations. Prof Hyppönen says that despite carriers of the fast-processing gene variation being four times quicker at metabolising caffeine, the research does not support the belief that these people could safely consume more caffeine, more frequently, without detrimental health effects. "An estimated three billion cups of coffee are enjoyed every day around the world," Prof Hyppönen says. "Knowing the limits of what's good for you and what's not is imperative. "As with many things, it's all about moderation; overindulge and your health will pay for it." Story Source: Materials provided by University of South Australia. Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Journal Reference: Ang Zhou, Elina Hyppönen. Long-term coffee consumption, caffeine metabolism genetics, and risk of cardiovascular disease: a prospective analysis of up to 347,077 individuals and 8368 cases. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2019; 109 (3): 509 DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqy297
