Studies Link Up to 400 mg of Coffee, Tea Caffeine to Lower Heart Risks
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 24
Studies Link Up to 400 mg of Coffee, Tea Caffeine to Lower Heart Risks
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 24
Summary
Up to 400 milligrams of caffeine a day—about three to five 8-ounce cups of coffee—is considered safe for most adults in large observational studies and small clinical trials.
Coffee and tea intake at those levels is linked to lower odds of heart disease, stroke, heart attack, heart failure, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and Atrial fibrillation.
Large studies also associate coffee and tea drinking with lower Parkinson’s risk, while caffeine itself improves vigilance, alertness, attention and reaction time.
Energy drinks and synthetic caffeinated supplements did not show the same benefits, and limited data instead point to higher risks of dangerous heart-rhythm disturbances and heart failure.
Researchers still caution that heavy caffeine use can trigger anxiety, jitteriness, nausea, stomach upset and insomnia, making source and dose central to any health benefit.