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Healthy Heart Tip: Caffeine & Heart Health

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by the Health Promotion and Education Team at Heart Research UK

A dose (or two) of caffeine plays a starring role in the morning routine of many adults, but is our morning cuppa having a negative impact on our heart? In this week’s healthy tip, we look at caffeine specifically in relation to our cardiovascular health. Does drinking coffee raise our blood pressure? Are energy drinks safe? Read on to find out and pick up some tips on how we can make our caffeine habit heart healthier.

Is caffeine bad for our heart?

You’ll be pleased to know that for healthy individuals, moderate consumption of caffeine (4-5 cups a day) doesn’t have a negative impact on our heart. However, everybody responds to caffeine differently and if you experience any negative side effects such as heart palpitations, it is wise to limit your consumption. Also, be mindful of drinking caffeine after mid-day as it can remain in your bloodstream for up to 10 hours after consumption and negatively impact your sleep – which could have a negative impact on your heart.

Caffeine & blood pressure

Consuming caffeine has been shown to cause our blood pressure to increase, however this is usually only temporary and in healthy individuals isn’t cause for concern. It is important we know our blood pressure and put lifestyle changes in place to keep it as healthy as possible, but quitting the coffee isn’t needed for a healthy heart. Instead, focus on eating a healthy diet and taking part in regular exercise.

Energy drinks & dehydration

While consuming a few cups of tea or coffee isn’t cause for concern, consuming multiple energy drinks could be more problematic. This is due to the volume in which they are consumed and the sugar that usually accompanies them. If you do drink energy drinks, don’t drink them as you would other soft drinks to avoid consuming high amounts of caffeine. It is also worth keeping in mind that consuming too much caffeine can cause dehydration, so make sure you sip water or other healthy drinks between your caffeinated beverages.

To help keep your heart healthy, why not try out some of the Healthy Heart recipes from the website here

Or have a look through the Healthy Heart cookbook filled with recipes from top chefs, celebrities and food bloggers here

Heart Research UK
Proud to stand out from the crowd, Heart Research UK is the charity dedicated to your heart. They inspire and invest in pioneering medical research, ground-breaking training and education, and in communities to improve their heart health for themselves. For over 50 years they have driven advancements in the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease to benefit patients as soon as possible.