Drinking up to 25 coffees a day 'not bad for your heart'

Coffee lovers, rejoice. Drinking coffee doesn’t damage your heart health, scientists have discovered.

Consuming up to 25 cups a day of the popular caffeinated drink does not lead to a higher risk of heart-related conditions like heart attack or stroke, according to a new study.

It was previously thought coffee-drinking causes stiffer arteries, a condition which makes your heart work harder to transport oxygen and nutrients around the body, which puts you at higher risk of heart attack or stroke.

However, scientists at Queen Mary University, London, disproved this theory in an analysis of more than 8,000 people.

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In the study, which required participants to undergo MRI heart scans and infrared pulse wave tests, no greater artery stiffening was observed among those who drank the least coffee and those who drank the most – 25 cups daily.

“Despite the huge popularity of coffee worldwide, different reports could put people off from enjoying it.

"Whilst we can't prove a causal link in this study, our research indicates coffee isn't as bad for the arteries as previous studies would suggest,” said Dr Kenneth Fung, who led the data analysis at Queen Mary University.

Yet, the advice should be taken with a pinch of salt – not least because most study participants drank substantially less coffee than this.

"Although our study included individuals who drink up to 25 cups a day, the average intake amongst the highest coffee consumption group was five cups a day,” adds Dr. Fung.

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"We would like to study these people more closely in our future work so that we can help to advise safe limits."

Of course, heart problems are just one of the reasons for avoiding excessive coffee consumption, which can also lead to anxiety and jitteriness.

However, moderate coffee consumption has been linked to a longer life and even the prevention of breast cancer.