blood pressure test. Coffee drinkers have a 5-point lower blood pressure than non-drinkers. Compared to non-coffee drinkers, individuals who drank more than 3 cups had 9-point lower blood pressure.
This research adds to a meta-analysis of four comparable studies that found a link between coffee and reduced blood pressure.
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How Coffee Affects Blood Pressure
“Caffeine in coffee can temporarily increase blood pressure by stimulating the sympathetic nervous system, but in the long term, regular coffee consumption can lead to a small reduction in blood pressure due to improved insulin sensitivity and antioxidant effects,” says Dr. Robert Segal, founder of Manhattan Cardiology, Medical Offices of Manhattan, and LabFinder, who was not involved in the study.
Dr. John Higgins, M.B.A., M.Phil., a sports cardiologist at the UTHealth Science Center at Houston – McGovern Medical School and the Memorial Hermann Ironman Sports Medicine Institute, Houston, TX, who was not involved in the study, told MNT: “Certain antioxidants in coffee, e.g., flavonoids, boost production of nitric oxide, which helps the blood vessel wall to dilate and lower blood pressure, as well as other minerals like magnesium, potassium, niacin, Nitric oxide, and less inflammation, reduce blood pressure.”
Dr. Shannon Hoos-Thompson, a University of Kansas Health System cardiologist, who was not involved in the research, told MNT: “This is an issue that has been looked at repeatedly from numerous methods, all over the globe, and going back a long time. Coffee in moderation is harmless and does not affect cardiovascular health.
Study Limitations
Dr. Hoos-Thompson highlighted that the research did not define “one cup” of coffee when questioned about its limitations. She emphasized that not knowing beverage amount, concentration, and caffeination restricts outcomes.
“Coffee drinkers may have reduced blood pressure. Stress, diet, exercise, or anything else. Unless these extra characteristics are tested in the same individuals and accounted for, it will be impossible to confidently infer that coffee is the major cause of improved blood pressure in these people,” she adds.
Remember that coffee intake was self-reported. Avoid sweetened coffees with flavor syrups and roasting and brewing procedures that lower antioxidant content. “The inability to adequately account for these variances continues to preclude a convincing conclusion of coffee’s health benefits,” she shares.
Just remember, everyone’s body is different. You should always consult your doctor if something seems off, want to try a new diet, or if you do something different where you may be uncertain how it will affect your body.