Is Coffee Good for Your Heart?
This post is sponsored by Purity Coffee, and contains sponsored links. I have received free product in exchange for my honest opinions.
Coffee is one of those things the recommendations seem to go back and forth on – is coffee good for your heart health? Is it a guilty pleasure or natural superfood? Because we all know we should be cautious taking nutrition advice from social media, we thought we would clear up any confusion and shed some light on the science based health benefits of quality coffee in this blog post.
You’ll be glad to hear that there is science to support boosting your heart health with coffee. However, when it comes down to it, quality really does matter.
Choose a clean & healthy coffee
A heaping spoonful of low quality instant coffee, or the coffee you might buy at most gas stations, will likely use the cheapest, lowest quality coffee beans (usually selected based on price alone). These beans may contain a higher ratio of bean defects (such as insect damage, over-fermented, and oxidized) and higher levels of mold. Plus, the coffee could quite possibly be stale. Many of the benefits of the coffee compounds will still be present, but so will compounds that can create adverse health effects.
It is best to find a coffee that’s tested to be free of contaminants, like Purity Coffee.
Purity Coffee is the only coffee that is produced with health as the top consideration. Every step of the way, from organically grown plants to fresh, nitrogen-flushed bags, they make sure the coffee is pure and clean. Not only is Purity Coffee free of contaminants, but it is roasted to have the highest concentration of antioxidants and the lowest risk of carcinogenic compounds. You can be confident that your health is in good hands when you brew Purity Coffee at any temperature.
Five ways coffee can boost your heart health:
1. Antioxidants
The key ingredient is a group of antioxidants known as chlorogenic acids, or CGAs. These components protect you from damaging free radicals. Free radicals are waste products that come from naturally occurring processes in the body, as well as exposure to ultraviolet radiation and environmental pollutants. When free radicals build up too high in the body, they have a damaging effect on our DNA. Left unchecked over time can lead to health problems like heart disease and cancer. That’s why it’s so important to consume a diet rich in antioxidants. CGAs (antioxidants) eliminate these oxidizing molecules in the body. That’s why they’re called “antioxidants.”
Coffee is one of the richest sources of antioxidants in the western diet and PURITY is the richest source of antioxidants out of all coffees.
2. Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes and heart disease often go hand-in-hand. And if you have type 2 diabetes you’re already at a greater risk for developing heart disease!
This 2014 study showed that participants who increased their coffee consumption by more than 1 cup per day over a 4 year period had an 11% lower risk of type 2 diabetes in the subsequent 4 years compared with those who made no changes in their coffee consumption. Participants who decreased their coffee intake by more than 1 cup per day had a 17% higher risk for type 2 diabetes.
3. Liver Disease
This meta-analysis suggests a 40% reduced risk of liver cancer in coffee drinkers. Research also suggests that coffee consumption is associated with a lower risk of other liver conditions as well.
Your liver is important in removing waste products accumulating in your body from free radical damage and medication usage. Treat it well!
4. Heart Health
This recent study suggests a lower risk of atrial fibrillation among those who consume 1-3 cups of coffee per day. Atrial fibrillation is an irregular or “fluttering” heartbeat that can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and other heart conditions.
5. Live Longer
Coffee is valued for its high antioxidant value and phytochemicals, so it is no surprise that coffee has been linked to lower risk for certain types of cancers. It also may promote longevity. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, “coffee drinkers may live longer than non-coffee drinkers, having lower risk of dying from many cancers – as well as other chronic diseases.” You can read more about the research on the AICR website here.
Regular or Decaf Coffee for Heart Health?
Either! Caffeine can raise some people’s blood pressure, though. So if you’re one of those people, consider decaf. You’ll get all the same heart healthy benefits we discussed above without the heart-racing!
No matter what kind of coffee you choose, be sure to brew it with a paper filter. Unfiltered coffee may raise cholesterol.
What’s your favorite way to have your coffee? For me, it’s usually plain black coffee. A big hot mug of comfort! And let me tell you what; Purity Coffee is one of the comfiest coffees I’ve had! It’s so smooth and delicious, and I never feel jittery after **a little** too much!
If you want to try it too, head over to the Purity Coffee Shop and use my discount code for 10% off your whole order! LYAUTZRD10 (I don’t receive any compensation for anything you order – this is solely a discount for you!)
I’ve also got a coffee giveaway going on over on my Instagram page! You can enter as many times as you like between now and September 30, 2019! Enter here.