coffee selections damaging for cholesterol management
Unleash Your Morning Caffeine Rush--With a Twist
Wake up, smell the coffee, and....check your cholesterol levels?
Yeah, you heard that right. Getting your daily caffeine fix from the office machine might be contributing to your heart health concerns, but that doesn't mean you should ditch your morning joe.
In a recent study published in the journal Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, a Swedish research team dived deep into the world of office coffee machines. They aimed to determine the levels of cholesterol-raising compounds in various workplaces, as some types of coffee are known to elevate LDL (or "bad") cholesterol and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
One of the study's co-authors, Dr David Iggman, explained the group's motivation. "People drink a lot of coffee at work, and they might not realize it could be a part of their diet that affects their cholesterol levels," he said.
Turns out, the brewing method plays a crucial role. Most workplace coffee machines utilize ground or whole beans and pass hot water through a metal filter, leading to higher concentrations of cafestol and kahweol--two cholesterol-raising diterpenes. In contrast, liquid-model machines, which blend a liquid coffee concentrate with hot water to create your cup, have relatively low levels of these compounds.
Curious about specific numbers? The researchers tested 14 workplace machines and found wide variation between them. However, liquid-model machines generally produced coffee with very low levels of diterpenes, similar to what you'd get with paper-filtered coffee. On the flip side, metal filter brewing machines displayed higher levels of these compounds, with median cafestol levels reaching up to 176 mg/L[1].
By comparison, boiled coffee and French Press/Percolator methods had even higher levels of these compounds[1]. So it's essential to take a glance at your machine and consider the brewing method to ensure you're making a healthy choice.
Don't panic just yet! Dr David Iggman emphasized that coffee still offers numerous health benefits overall. However, if you're drinking multiple cups of machine-made coffee every day at work, it's worth considering the impact of these chemicals on your cholesterol levels.
According to the expert, coffee passed through a paper filter or instant coffee are the best options when it comes to maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. When in doubt, choose the liquid-model machine for a healthier dose of caffeine.
So go ahead, indulge in your favorite caffeine rush. Just remember to take a minute to consider the brewing method--your heart will thank you.
About our expert
David Iggman is associated with the Center for Clinical Research Dalarna, Uppsala University, Sweden. His research in renowned journals such as The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Diabetes, and the Journal of Internal Medicine has furthered our understanding of cholesterol regulation and its impact on brain function.
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[1] Research source: Johansson E, et al. Coffee brewing methods and levels of cafestol and kahweol in workplace coffee brewers and common home brewing methods: a cross-sectional study. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis (2019) 30:984–991. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.numecd.2019.08.008
- The study in Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases examined the levels of cholesterol-raising compounds in various workplace coffee machines, aiming to understand their impact on cardiovascular health.
- Dr David Iggman, one of the authors of the study, highlighted that people may not realize office coffee contributes to their diet-related cholesterol concerns.
- The brewing method significantly affects the levels of cholesterol-raising diterpenes in coffee; liquid-model machines have low levels, while metal filter brewing machines display higher levels.
- The researchers tested 14 workplace coffee machines and found wide variations between them, but generally, liquid-model machines produced coffee with low diterpene levels similar to paper-filtered coffee.
- Dr David Iggman emphasized that coffee still offers numerous health benefits overall, but if one consumes multiple cups of machine-made coffee daily, it's worth looking into the impact of these chemicals on cholesterol levels.
- According to Dr David Iggman, coffee passed through a paper filter or instant coffee are the healthiest options for maintaining healthy cholesterol levels.
- The expert advises choosing a liquid-model machine for a healthier caffeine consumption when in doubt, in light of the study's findings on coffee brewing methods and cholesterol-raising compounds.
