Coffee and the Heart

Heart Health and Decaffeinated Coffee

The third cup of coffee was just a bit too much: You notice your heart starting to race. You can clearly feel the increased pulse. The reason for this is the caffeine in the coffee. Your conclusion: Next time, you’ll skip the third cup of coffee or switch to decaffeinated coffee to protect your heart. But what effects do coffee and decaffeinated coffee have on heart health? And is it true that decaffeinated coffee protects the heart? We've taken a closer look at these questions and reviewed scientific studies. You can learn about our findings in this article.

What Does Heart Health Mean?

Heart health refers to measures that counteract cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Nutrition, exercise, and a stress-reduced lifestyle play the most important role in this. We support a mindful, healthy lifestyle and want to raise your awareness of caffeine.

The Powerhouse Heart

Our heart is the central organ of our circulatory system and works like a pump. It pumps around 7,000 liters of blood daily through the body for an average-sized person. Nutrients and oxygen are transported to the organs. The brain is the main recipient, consuming about a fifth of the total blood volume. The heart beats between 60 and 90 times per minute, which is the resting pulse of a generally healthy adult. With every heartbeat, the left ventricle pumps blood into the aorta and thus to all areas of the body. The right ventricle pushes blood through the pulmonary artery into the lungs, enabling gas exchange: fresh oxygen is absorbed, and carbon dioxide is exhaled.

How Can We Protect Our Heart Health?

• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
• Consume whole grains, fish, low-fat dairy, and lean meats and be moderate with alcohol.
• Saturated fats should make up less than 10 percent of daily calorie intake.
• Daily cholesterol intake should not exceed 300 mg.
• Salt intake should not exceed 5 g per day.
• Regular physical activity of at least 30 minutes daily is essential. Older adults who can engage in physical activity should aim to be as active as younger adults. A minimum of 1,000 kcal of energy expenditure per week should be targeted, which corresponds to about two to three hours of walking.

We also recommend practicing mindfulness, reducing stress, and learning to adjust coffee and caffeine consumption to your individual level.

What Are Cardiovascular Diseases?

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) defines cardiovascular diseases (CVD) as the leading cause of death in Germany. Many CVDs are triggered by an unhealthy lifestyle, including poor diet, stress, lack of exercise, and smoking. The spectrum of cardiovascular diseases is broad. The main diseases include:

• High Blood Pressure (Hypertension): The most common CVD, affecting about 20 percent of adults, with higher rates in older individuals.
• Atherosclerosis (Arterial Hardening): Affects over three million people in Germany.
• Chronic Heart Failure: A condition where the heart's pumping power gradually decreases. About two million people in Germany suffer from this.

How Does Coffee or Decaf Consumption Affect Cardiovascular Diseases?

Coffee is one of the most commonly consumed beverages worldwide. An estimated 3 billion cups are consumed daily. The health benefits and risks of individual coffee consumption on cardiovascular diseases have been researched and discussed for a long time, but the results from scientific studies are controversial.

When examining the results of these studies, we must distinguish whether the individuals are healthy or already suffer from a cardiovascular disease. If you are healthy and regularly drink coffee, there is no risk of developing a cardiovascular disease. A habitual, moderate coffee intake of 2-3 cups per day (with caffeine) can even lower the risk of CVD. Decaffeinated coffee has no effect on the risk of developing a cardiovascular disease in healthy individuals, so you can enjoy it freely. Various compounds in coffee have protective properties that can contribute to heart health. In decaffeinated coffee, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of phenolic acids and other secondary plant compounds come into play without the significant side effects triggered by caffeine.

If you have high blood pressure, you should consume coffee in moderation because caffeine can temporarily raise blood pressure. After 3 cups a day, depending on your condition, switching to decaffeinated coffee is advisable to prevent potential intolerance. In general, people with cardiovascular disease should be mindful of their coffee consumption. It is also recommended to switch to decaffeinated coffee if you metabolize caffeine slowly. Studies show that the risk of developing high blood pressure is higher in slow caffeine metabolizers compared to non-coffee drinkers, whereas in fast caffeine metabolizers, the risk is lower compared to non-coffee drinkers.

Conclusion for Your Heart Health:

To avoid cardiovascular diseases, a healthy diet and sufficient exercise are crucial.

Moderate coffee consumption (with caffeine) is not a problem.

If you have high blood pressure or another cardiovascular disease, be mindful of your coffee intake and switch to decaffeinated coffee.

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