Does coffee in the morning really contribute more to heart health?

A recently published study claims that drinking coffee in the morning may reduce the chance of dying from heart disease – is this true?The study, which lasted about 20 years, analyzed the coffee consumption habits of thousands of participants. About 36% of the subjects reported drinking coffee in the morning, while 16% drank coffee at other times during the day and about half of the participants did not drink coffee at all. The researchers’ conclusion was that among those who drank coffee in the morning, there was a decrease in mortality rates compared to the other groups.

 

One of the explanations according to the researchers is that the caffeine component in his coffee has a beneficial health effect. Previous studies have indicated that caffeine may improve vascular function, reduce inflammation and improve metabolic indices related to heart health.

 

“‘It is difficult to determine whether drinking coffee in the morning actually causes a decrease in risk or whether it is a coincidental relationship’

Prof. Gadi Keren, director of the cardiology department at Assuta Medical Centers, refers to the results with reservations. “The relationship in the study can be coincidental and not causal. As in any observational study, it is difficult to determine whether drinking coffee in the morning actually causes a decrease in risk or whether it is a coincidental relationship resulting from other factors, such as the lifestyle or overall diet of the participants. Moreover, the study was based on self-report of participants, and it is a method that may be subject to biases. That is, it is possible that people who drink coffee in the morning have adopted healthier lifestyle habits in general, such as maintaining a healthy diet or exercising, and that Which in practice contributes to a decrease in their mortality rates,” Prof. Keren points out. “For example, they may be careful about a balanced diet, physical activity or sufficient sleep.”

 

 

 

He also emphasizes that the results of the current study indicate contradictions compared to previous studies. “16% of the subjects who drank coffee during the day did not show an improvement in cardiac health, and this is in contrast to other studies that actually showed that coffee caused an improvement in this index.”

As mentioned, he recommends treating the findings with caution. “There is no need to start drinking coffee in the morning just because of this study, especially if you haven’t done so before. Prefer to focus on known lifestyle habits that have a positive effect on heart health, such as physical activity, a balanced diet and stress management.”

He concludes by saying that the health effects of coffee are still being researched, but there is definitely room for deepening scientific knowledge in this area.