Surprising Side Effects Coffee Has On Your Immune System Says Science
You may already know that a cup of coffee can reduce your risk of certain chronic diseases, boost your cognitive health, and help you lose weightall while fueling you through those morning meetings. But what side effects does coffee have on your immune system? You may be surprised to find out that there are both benefits and potential drawbacks to your daily pick-me-up when it comes to warding off illness.
Of course, the impact that coffee has on your immune system depends largely on the nature of your habit. Drinking anything caffeinated in excess, coffee included, can cause some seriously unpleasant effects, like anxiety, fatigue, and disrupted sleep.
According to the FDA, a maximum of four cups per day is generally a safe amount to drink in order to reap the rewards without the possible risks. With that in mind, here are some of the ways your favorite caffeinated beverage can impact your immune health. And for even more healthy tips, read up on our list of The 7 Healthiest Foods to Eat Right Now.
According to Mayo Clinic, coffee can raise your blood pressure .
That’s bad news, considering that high blood pressure is associated with a weaker immune system.
Keep in mind that this increase in blood pressure is temporary, so it may not prove problematic unless you’re consuming coffee in excess on a regular basisor if you already have hypertension.
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What Does Coffee Do To Blood Pressure In The Long Term
The long-term side effects of drinking coffee on blood pressure really depend on whether youre a habitual or occasional coffee drinker, according to Dr. George. A 2017 review in the journal Nutrients, found that increased coffee consumption is associated with a small decrease in hypertension, or high blood pressure.
More recent studies suggest that it is safe to drink three to four cups of coffee a day for people who have hypertension, according to Dr. George. And habitual coffee drinking has been linked to a lower risk of coronary heart disease in women, per a meta-analysis in the European Journal of Epidemiology.
But that doesnt mean more is better.
Studies, like one published in 2019 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that people who drank more than six cups of coffee a day had a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, than moderate coffee drinkers. Moderate intake was linked to the lowest risk of cardiovascular disease, says Satjit Bhusri, MD and founder of Upper East Side Cardiology in New York.
People also need to be mindful of consuming other drinks and even foods with added caffeine, including caffeinated waters, juices, energy drinks, chocolates, candies, and even potato chips, Dr. Bhusri says.
Is Caffeine Bad If I Have Hypertension
You may wonder if its safe to consume caffeine if your doctor has diagnosed you with hypertension. While you should ask you doctor just to be sure, having 1 to 2 cups of coffee or tea a day is usually considered safe.
If your doctor recommends that you regularly monitor your blood pressure at home, make sure to take any readings BEFORE you have your coffee or 6 hours after you finish drinking it, so you log your normal blood pressure and not your post-caffeine spike. Likewise, at each of your doctors appointments, you should let your doctor know when you last drank a caffeinated beverage .
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Watch What You Put In Your Coffee Too
Remember what you put in your coffee also can affect your health. What is more important is not the caffeine in coffee, but the extra ingredients folks add to spruce it up, Dr. George says.
Sugar, artificial sweeteners, and heavy cream all can potentially add lots of calories or are linked to other risk factors, such as excess weight or type 2 diabetes, ultimately negating the benefits of coffee, according to Dr. George.
It Can Decrease Inflammation In The Body
Some studies have suggested that coffee can have an anti-inflammatory effect. That might explain why research has demonstrated that coffee drinkers tend to have lower circulating levels of inflammatory markers.
But before you down that second cup of joe, consider this. Other research has suggested that coffee can have the opposite effect in certain individuals, promoting inflammation.
Confusing, right? Researchers concluded that whether coffee has an inflammatory or anti-inflammatory effect may depend on the individual’s genetics. If you suspect that coffee is actually triggering or worsening inflammation for you, try reducing your intake to see if your symptoms improve. Not sure how much coffee you should have? Here’s How Much Coffee You Can Have in a Day, According to the Mayo Clinic
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What Happens If I Stop Drinking Coffee
Withdrawal Symptoms If caffeine is a big part of your daily diet, taking it away can have a host of unpleasant effects in the short term. These include headache, tiredness, sleepiness, down moods, trouble concentrating, and crankiness. Youll start to feel symptoms a day or two after you stop. 04.08.2021
Seven Things To Eat Or Avoid To Lower Your Blood Pressure
Authors: Professor Clare Collins, Associate Professor Tracy Burrows and Dr Tracy Schumacher
High blood pressure is called the silent killer. Thats because it has no symptoms. Having high blood pressure increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, heart failure and kidney disease.
Six million Australian adults have high blood pressure 140/90 millimetres of mercury or more or take medications for it. Of those, four million have high blood pressure that isnt treated or under control.
No wonder heart disease and stroke directly cost the Australian economy A$7.7 billion a year.
There is some good news. High blood pressure can be treated or prevented. Eating oats, fruit and vegetables and beetroot, in particular helps. So does avoiding salt, liquorice, caffeine and alcohol.
Optimal blood pressure is 120 mmHg or less over 80 mmHg or less. Lowering it by 1-2 mmHg can have a big impact on reducing your risk of heart disease and stroke, and the nations health care costs.
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Is It Safe To Drink Coffee If You Have Hypertension
Talk to your physician about how much caffeine you can consume if you have hypertension. Their recommendations will vary depending on how well your blood pressure is controlled, how high it is, and whether you have heart disease. They may also recommend limiting the amount you drink. But there are reasons to be cautious with caffeine if you have hypertension.
Some studies show that drinking lots of caffeinated coffee can raise stress hormones. Two of these stress hormones, adrenaline, and cortisol, can trigger a rise in blood pressure. Adrenalin directly increases blood pressure, while cortisol causes your body to retain more sodium and fluid, leading to a rise in blood pressure. Plus, some people metabolize caffeine slowly. Research shows slow metabolizers are more likely to have side effects, like heart rhythm irregularities and a significant rise in blood pressure.
Speaking of slow metabolism of caffeine, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association observed 4,000 people and their coffee drinking habits. The study showed that those who metabolized caffeine slowly had a 36% higher risk of heart attack if they drank more than 2 cups of coffee per day, and a 64% greater risk of death if they drank four or more cups each day.
Increased Risk Of Heart Attack For Hypertensive People As Young As 18
A study presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in August 2015 followed 1,201 people who had untreated stage 1 hypertension .
After collecting data for 12.5 years, the researchers concluded that heavy coffee drinkers were 4.3 three times more likely to have a cardiovascular event and moderate drinkers were almost three times more likely. They also found that the risk of prediabetes increased by 100% in heavy coffee drinkers.
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To Sum It Up Does Coffee Raise Blood Pressure
Studies show that coffee increases blood pressure for up to 3 hours , after which it returns back down.
As the effects are so short-lived, for the general population regular coffee consumption does not raise your blood pressure long-term, nor does it appear to increase your risk of cardiovascular health problems.
However, there is a large caveat.
Our individual tolerance of caffeine is largely determined by our genes. Slow caffeine metabolisers have much greater spikes in blood pressure after a coffee, and are far more at risk for negative cardiovascular consequences as a result.
If you suspect you are a slow caffeine metaboliser, and you have existing high blood pressure, I recommend limiting yourself to one coffee per day. Better yet, switch to decaf.
For the majority though, a few coffees per day will not raise blood pressure in the long-run just dont have one before a blood pressure check-up.
Synthesis Of The Data
In each clinical trial, the net effect of coffee/caffeine on BP was calculated as the difference in mean SBP and DBP change between the intervention and control groups. In crossover designs, the effect of coffee/caffeine was calculated as the difference in BP between the intervention and control periods.
In the meta-analysis of clinical trials on the acute effects of coffee/caffeine on BP, each period of time with BP measurements after the administration of coffee/caffeine was considered as an independent stratum . When a study had more than one measurement in the same period of observation, we used the mean of those measurements. For example, in the study by Freestone and Ramsay , 3 strata were considered, because measures after caffeine intake were available for the first , second , and third periods of observation in both the intervention and control groups. However, protocols a and b in the study by Potter et al were considered as independent studies because they considered different times of caffeine abstinence before the intervention and included a different number of participants. Because none of the studies selected presented the SDi of the mean BP in each stratum, it was estimated by using the following formula:
where SEMi is the SEM in each stratum and ni is the size of each stratum. In studies without information on SEM or other sources to calculate the SD , the SEM was imputed in a standardized way by using the prognostic method with the following formula:
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Drink Your Way To Lower Blood Pressure
There are many delicious drinks which can actually help lower your blood pressure, as well as just not raising it. Youll find the most comprehensive overview of these in our book:
Lower Your Blood Pressure Naturally The Complete 9 Step Guide.
Also, while you can drink your way to lower blood pressure to some extent, youll almost certainly need to adjust your diet and maybe other aspects of your lifestyle as well. If you want to seriously and sustainably lower your blood pressure for the long-term, then youll need to be quite active regularly. Youll also need to make sure youre not too stressed out too much of the time.
This might sound like quite a big ask, but it can actually be quite a straightforward process if you just take it one step at a time. Our book will help you do just that. Each step focuses on different aspects of lowering blood pressure naturally and gives you clear guidance on how to do it. You can follow the steps at whatever pace best suits you. Theres no deadline or race.
Theres also no terrible hardship to go through. Lowering blood pressure naturally absolutely does not have to be a life of denial. You can still eat chocolate, drink alcohol, and eat red meat and butter , along with plenty of other tasty and nutritious foods.
There are plenty of ways to get more exercise in your everyday life which are enjoyable and suit your natural interests you dont have to be a yoga or gym fanatic .
Does Drinking Caffeinated Coffee Increase The Risk Of Developing Hypertension
One of the strongest risk factors for hypertension is having a family history of the disease. Drinking coffee doesnt greatly increase the risk of developing hypertension. One study followed 1017 male medical students for 33 years. They found that drinking coffee causes a mild, temporary rise in blood pressure, but only has a small effect on the risk of developing hypertension.
Still, if you have borderline high blood pressure or a family history of hypertension, its best to consume caffeine only in moderation or switch to decaf. If youre unsure how caffeine affects your blood pressure, check your blood pressure. Then drink a cup of coffee and recheck it at 30 and 90 minutes. If you get a substantial rise, be cautious with caffeine. Also, save the readings and show them to your physician.
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What You Need To Know About Coffee And Cholesterol
Coffee is a popular beverage that can help boost energy. Research suggests that it may also provide antioxidants and nutrients that are good for your health. But coffee has a downside, potentially causing insomnia, restlessness, and stomach upset, especially if consumed in excess. Adding to the risks are studies that suggest that coffee may not be good for you if you have high cholesterol.
Coffee is a central part of many people’s daily rituals, and the question is whether the benefits of coffee outweigh the risks? And, if risks do exist, are there ways to reduce them if you’re struggling to control your cholesterol?
What Is Blood Pressure
Systolic pressure: The pressure when the ventricles pump blood out of the heart
Diastolic pressure: The pressure between heartbeats when the heart is filling with blood
Hypertension is typically treated with heart-healthy lifestyle changes such as a healthy low-sodium diet and regular exercise. Medication to reduce blood pressure may also be needed.
Some people also use supplements and other natural remedies to help manage blood pressure. For instance, research suggests that certain teas, such as black tea and green tea, may help lower blood pressure.
This article will look at the science of how tea affects blood pressure, and how best to get the benefits.
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Does Decaf Coffee Raise Cortisol
Many studies have found that ingesting caffeine with or without coffee does not affect cortisol. Multiple other studies have shown that caffeine increases stress hormones like cortisol in the body both at rest and during stress. Another group of studies have found no cortisol response to ingesting caffeine at all.
Coffee And High Blood Pressure
Coffee has travelled a long way through the ages since a goat herder in Ethiopia noticed his goats were especially energetic after eating certain red berries.
After becoming popular with monks and traders, coffee spread from Africa and the Middle East to Europe, and is now probably the most widely consumed drink in the world today. Its even been blessed by the Pope.
But whats the relationship between coffee and high blood pressure? If you have high blood pressure do you need to give up coffee? Probably not. However, caffeine does raise blood pressure. While its unlikely youre going to need to give it up completely, you may need to limit your caffeine intake if youre trying to lower your blood pressure.
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Does Caffeine Increase Blood Pressure
Caffeine is a natural stimulant found in the nuts, berries, and leaves of certain plants. Caffeine is most commonly consumed as coffee or tea products, and some have estimated that these beverages may be the most widely consumed foods in the world.
Because caffeine is so common in all human cultures, a great deal of research has been done to discover the health effects of caffeine. Relationships between caffeine and heart disease, as well as the caffeine-blood pressure link, have been especially active fields of study.
Study Selection And Data Extraction
Two investigators independently selected the studies and extracted the data, and discrepancies were resolved by consensus. To examine the effect of coffee or caffeine consumption on change in BP, we selected controlled clinical trials, either randomized or nonrandomized, in which participants had an SBP 140 mm Hg and/or a DBP 90 mm Hg or who were identified as having mild or mild-to-moderate hypertension . Trials with a co-intervention on other lifestyles factors, such as smoking or physical activity, were excluded. As was done in a previous review , the studies were classified into 2 groups, according to whether duration of coffee or caffeine intake was < 1 wk or 1 wk .
To explore the association between habitual coffee consumption and risk of CVD in hypertensive individuals, we selected cohort studies in which the outcome variables were CVD incidence or mortality. Both cohort studies of hypertensive individuals and larger cohorts that presented results in a subgroup of hypertensive individuals were included.
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Coffee And Blood Pressure
According to a study in the October 2011 issue of the “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,” drinking coffee substantially raises your blood pressure for up to three hours after consumption. Researchers state that 200 to 300 milligrams of caffeine, equal to 2 to 3 cups of coffee depending on the strength, raised the systolic number by 8.1 millimeters of mercury and the diastolic by 5.7. This change took place within an hour of consumption. While researchers observed an immediate increase in blood pressure, they say that being a coffee drinker does not necessarily raise your blood pressure in the long term.