There’s a long list of potential health benefits associated with drinking coffee. From improved focus to healthier kidneys and beyond, it seems like its well-deserving of superfood status.
But COVID-19 might have made getting it a challenge. For the first time, many North Americans might be making their coffee at home for the first time in a very long time.
Advertisement
Which is why I need to bring up the results from a rather timely study.
Researchers in Sweden have identified that a specific preparation may promote heart-health and have life-extending benefits.
If you’ve ever seen coffee beans, you might have noticed they can give off a glimmer. Natural oils often coat beans and are present in the grounds of your favorite brew. These oils can influence cholesterol levels.
Looking at over 500,000 Norwegian adults, researchers identified that those who drank filtered coffee were 15% less likely to die than those who did not drink it. Further, those who drank unfiltered coffee did not enjoy a similar advantage.
They had death rates close to non-coffee drinkers.
Researchers believe the reason may have something to do with hot-water contact and natural oil levels. Espresso, boiled coffee, or coffee made with French press are all forms of unfiltered coffee, which undergo a longer exposure to hot water than filtered varieties.
It’s also possible that coffee filters help to remove oils in coffee that may contribute to high cholesterol and put heart health at risk.
Advertisement
The study, however, was not without limitations. It could not prove cause and effect, while it did not account for individual participants’ dietary habits, what they ate with their coffee, or how which additives might have been included (milk, sugar, etc.).
It does appear, however, that there may be a benefit to heart health from drinking unfiltered coffee and lower risk for heart disease. Researchers identified that up to four cups per day will offer the most benefit while having nine can increase the risk of heart troubles.
If you’re new to brewing your own coffee at home, getting a drip filter machine might be the best move for your heart health and longevity. And remember, the less sugar and milk you add, the healthier it is likely to be!
Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
