Drinking 2 to 3 cups of coffee could extend your lifespan and reduce risk of cardiovascular diseases, according to a recent study, challenging the misconception that coffee should be avoided by patients with cardiovascular diseases. 

The study, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, evaluated the associations between the impact of decaffeinated, ground, and instant coffee and arrhythmia, cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and mortality. 

The study included 4,49,563 participants with a median age of 58 years and without a prevalent diagnosis of arrhythmia or CVD. The habits of coffee drinkers were then compared to those of non-drinkers.

Results showed that 2-3 cups of coffee every day reduced the risk of CVD and death. 

“The greatest risk reduction was seen with two to three cups per day, which, compared to no coffee drinking, was associated with a 14%, 27% and 11% lower likelihood of death for decaffeinated, ground, and instant preparations, respectively” – European Society of Cardiology 

Except for decaffeinated coffee, the other coffee subtypes also helped to reduce the risk of arrhythmia.

The incidence of death from cardiovascular issues was found to be at its lowest at 4-5 cups of ground coffee every day and at reduced risk with 1-3 cups of decaffeinated coffee per day.

Professor Kistler, one of the study authors,  said in a press release by the European Society of Cardiology, “Caffeine is the most well-known constituent in coffee, but the beverage contains more than 100 biologically active components. It is likely that the non-caffeinated compounds were responsible for the positive relationships observed between coffee drinking, cardiovascular disease and survival. Our findings indicate that drinking modest amounts of coffee of all types should not be discouraged but can be enjoyed as a heart healthy behavior.”