For many years, there has been a lot of confusion when it comes to the effect of coffee on heart health. But regular coffee drinkers may have a good reason to feel good about their habit. A new study published on the Heart Journal found that drinking a few cups of coffee a day may actually help people avoid clogged arteries.

Researchers studied more than 25,000 male and female employees who underwent routine health checks at their workplace. Employees who drank a moderate amount of coffee – three to five cups a day – were less likely to have early signs of heart disease on their medical scans, the study found, the BBC reports.

While some studies have linked daily consumption of coffee to heart risk factors, such as raised cholesterol or blood pressure, others suggest the beverage may offer some heart protection.

Image; provided

According to the report, the researchers used medical scans to assess heart health. Specifically, they were looking for any disease of the arteries supplying the heart – the coronary arteries. The researchers then compared the scan results with the employees’ self-reported daily coffee consumption, while taking into account other potential heart risk factors such as smoking, exercise and family history of heart problems.

The results revealed that those who drank a few cups of coffee a day were less likely to have calcium deposits in their coronary arteries than people who drank more than this or no coffee at all.

“While this study does highlight a potential link between coffee consumption and lower risk of developing clogged arteries, more research is needed to confirm these findings and understand what the reason is for the association,” Victoria Taylor of the British Heart Foundation said.

Do you drink coffee every day? What do you think about this study? Please share your feelings in the comments section below and on Facebook!

H/T: BBC

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