Photo of a cup of coffee on a saucer which also holds a spoon, with overlay of blog article title--"is coffee bad for the heart? uncovering the truth".
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Coffee—the word may bring to mind store shelves full of brightly colored bags of beans, or maybe a reminder that the day is about to start as the coffee starts brewing into the pot. Whatever the word “coffee” brings to mind, there is no doubt that it’s a pretty famous beverage that is an important part of many people’s days.

However, if you have heart disease or are at risk for heart disease, you may be wondering if coffee is still safe to drink. In this article, we’ll discuss if coffee is bad for the heart or not, as well as some other important factors to consider if you are a heart patient.

Quick disclaimer—although I am a registered dietitian nutritionist, your reading of this or any articles on this website does not constitute medical nutrition therapy advice nor create a practitioner-client relationship. The information I provide here on this website is for educational and informational purposes only. Please see my full disclaimer for more information.

Background on the Concerns

If you’ve been listening to the news or even opinions in your healthcare provider’s office, you may have heard varying responses on the topic of coffee drinking and how it affects the heart. To be fair, some of these concerns are worth mentioning.

Stimulant Effects

It is true that regular coffee contains caffeine, which is a stimulant.1 Caffeine’s stimulating effects can include making you feel more energetic, improving your concentration, and increasing your alertness.2

For some people, caffeine may raise their heart rates, increase heart palpitations, or bring on feelings of anxiety.It can also affect sleep quality, depending upon how much caffeine is consumed and how close to sleep it is consumed.

If you’ve noticed some of the more negative effects when drinking coffee, you may want to take a look at how much coffee you’re drinking and how close to bedtime you’re drinking it. If you feel that you’re not drinking that much coffee or that you notice issues no matter when you drink coffee, it would be wise to discuss these concerns with your healthcare provider to determine what the right plan is for you.

Medication Interactions

Another frequently mentioned concern with drinking coffee is the potential for interaction with some medications. Coffee may affect the way some blood pressure, blood thinner, and diuretic medications work.3

It is a good practice to always double check your medication information and look for any interactions with coffee or caffeine. And always check with your doctor, pharmacist, and other healthcare providers for their advice on whether coffee is okay for you to drink if you’re on some of these medications.

Diuretic Effects

You may have noticed that you use the restroom more frequently when you drink coffee. And that is a true phenomenon—caffeine does increase urination.1 In some cases, drinking a lot of caffeine-containing beverages can increase the risk of dehydration. 

It would be wise to avoid overdoing it with coffee drinking to keep yourself adequately hydrated. Do check with your healthcare provider about the right amount of caffeine-containing and caffeine-free beverages to drink each day.

Potential concerns with coffee infographic.

Potential Benefits for the Heart

Although there are some potential concerns with coffee drinking and heart issues, there are also several benefits associated with the beverage.

Vitamins and Minerals

Surprisingly, coffee contains several vitamins and minerals, such as B vitamins, potassium, and magnesium.2,4 Your heart benefits when your body has optimal levels of these nutrients. Coffee may not be the best source of each, but every little bit counts.

Phytochemicals

While “phytochemical” is a large and technical word, the main takeaway from this term is that coffee contains compounds that can help the cells in your body defend themselves against the stressors that are commonly working against them.4-5 This action may be similar to that of the compounds in fruits and vegetables.4-5

So as can be seen, coffee does have some “perks” for heart health.

How to Drink Coffee in a Heart-Healthy Way

If you feel comfortable drinking coffee after having read through this article and having discussed the question with your healthcare provider, then you may want to try some of the suggestions below.

Suggestions for Preparing Your Coffee

Choose Filtered

A first recommendation for you to consider is choosing filtered coffee most of the time. Filtered coffee contains far less in the way of diterpenes, which are compounds that are associated with raising cholesterol.6 Methods where you can use a paper filter include pour over and drip coffee. 

But what about French press, espresso, and other unique methods of brewing, such as Turkish coffee? You may want to save these types of coffee preparation for special occasions, since the coffee they produce contains a far larger amount of diterpenes.6 If you do choose to enjoy these methods of coffee making, consider sticking to one serving to keep things balanced.

Watch What You Add

It’s no secret that there are so many options for coffee sweeteners, creamers, and other add-ins on the market today. With all of these possibilities, what are some wise choices?

A first suggestion is to keep your coffee simple. The simplest way is to drink black coffee. But if that’s not your preference, then it would be wise to opt for add-ins that are generally lower in fat and sugar.

Fat

On the topic of fat, consider choosing dairy or non-dairy alternatives that are lower in saturated fat. Full fat dairy, some coconut-based creamers, and similar items tend to be higher in saturated fat. If you like your coffee to have a lot of product in it, you may do well to choose lower-fat dairy or non-dairy options—check the label for fat and saturated fat content.

If you absolutely must have regular half-and-half, consider sticking to the serving size as specified on the package, and avoid having more than one serving. Another point to note—if you are mindful of what you eat/drink during the rest of the day, then having a little regular half-and-half could fit into a heart-healthy diet.

Sugar

Moving on to sugar, you may have noticed that many commercial coffee creamers and syrups contain a lot of added sugars. Portion size in this case is also important—if sweetened creamers are necessary to you, it would be wise to measure out the serving size and stay with that. You may also be able to round out your coffee cup with more unsweetened, low-fat dairy or non-dairy milks.

If you are someone who enjoys adding sugar to coffee, you may want to consider using some lower-sugar alternatives, such as stevia, monk fruit, and others. Another option could be artificial sweeteners. However, always check with your healthcare provider to be sure these are right for you.

Be Mindful of How Much Coffee You Drink

Although it may go without saying, it may be worth saying—portion size, for anything we eat and drink, is important. If you’re drinking drip or pour over types of coffee, then a few 6- to 8-oz cups per day may be okay.But if your favorite way to enjoy coffee is a latte or shot of espresso, aim for only one, and be mindful of what add-ins are going into your latte or other type of espresso beverage.

Quick tips for preparing your coffee infographic.

Coffee Alternatives

If you’ve come this far in reading but don’t really want to go with regular coffee, then what are some other enjoyable beverage options to try?

Consider Decaf

A first option, especially if you enjoy the flavor of coffee, is decaf coffee. Although not absolutely caffeine free, it contains only a very small amount of caffeine, which you may feel is a better choice for you. Many coffee brands make delicious decaf options.

Try Tea

The world of tea is quite large, with so many options! Keep in mind that black tea, green tea, white tea, and some other teas may contain caffeine, although the amount is usually less than that of coffee. Herbal teas are usually free of caffeine, and they can be soothing beverages. A word of advice—do check with your healthcare providers about tea, as some teas may contain ingredients that could interact with heart-related medications.

Explore Lemon Water

Although lemon water may not seem as exciting as coffee, some people find it to be an enjoyable beverage to drink. If you’re interested, you may want to give it a try.

Conclusion

To wrap things up, coffee is a popular beverage that isn’t necessarily bad for the heart; in fact, it may provide benefit to some people with heart disease. However, there are some issues to consider when drinking coffee, especially if you’re on certain medications or feel negative effects from caffeine’s stimulation.

A thorough discussion with your healthcare providers can help you decide what will fit best in a heart-healthy nutrition plan. As always, aim for balance in your beverage (and food) choices to help you live a healthier lifestyle.

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Sources

  1. American Heart Association Editorial Staff. Caffeine and Heart Disease. American Heart Association website. Updated September 12, 2023. Accessed September 18, 2023. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/nutrition-basics/caffeine-and-heart-disease.
  2. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Coffee. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health website. Updated July 2020. Accessed September 18, 2023. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/coffee/.
  3. Belayneh A, Molla F. The effect of coffee on pharmacokinetic properties of drugs: a review. BioMed Research International. 2020;1-11. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/7909703. Accessed September 18, 2023.
  4. Cleveland Clinic. This Should Perk You Up: The Surprising Health Benefits of Coffee. Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials website. Published February 2, 2023. Accessed September 18, 2023. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/the-health-benefits-of-coffee/.
  5. Kolb H, Kempf K, Martin S. Health effects of coffee: mechanism unraveled? Nutrients. 2020;12(6):1842. doi: 10.3390/nu12061842 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7353358/)
  6. Harvard Health Publishing: Harvard Medical School. What’s The Healthiest Way to Brew Coffee? Harvard Health Publishing website. Published July 1, 2020. Accessed September 18, 2023. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/whats-the-healthiest-way-to-brew-coffee.

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