Attention latte lovers: that buzz you get from your morning coffee may be helpful for your heart in the short term, but more than one cup of joe daily could speed up your heart's expiration date.
Drinking more than one cup of coffee per day can intensify low-level inflammation, according to a study in last month's American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. This is a possible primary factor in the development of heart disease, Reuters reported.
In a study conducted by two Greek colleges, the University of Athens and Harokopia University, 3,000 people were surveyed about how frequently they drank coffee, and their blood was tested for compounds known to encourage inflammation.
After considering age, gender, smoking, body weight and physical activity, the results remained consistent: Moderate to high amounts of coffee could increase the risk of heart disease, the researchers reported.
D.C. dietician Edith Howard Hogan disagreed with the findings.
"The studies that I know about indicate that a moderate amount of coffee has no effect," she said.
Hogan cited a study by General Electric that showed slight benefits of coffee intake. This study found that a cup of coffee allowed assembly line workers to be more precise and effective, although the caffeine's effects were short-term.
However, the study's results came as no surprise to some.
"I can certainly see how coffee would increase the risk of heart disease because of the caffeine, of course," said Elissa Yotsuji, head supervisor of Davenport, the student-run coffee shop in the School of International Service building.
"The threat of heart failure does not seem to deter people from their lattes," Yotsuiji said. "As for regular coffee drinkers, I think it is just as much as psychological affect as it is a chemical one."
Yotsuiji said that many students drink coffee frequently.
"It is rather amazing, everyone at Davenport is able to sit and study. With all the caffeine flying around in there, people should be bouncing off the walls," Yotsuiji said. "I swear you could get high off of the smell of all the coffee in [Davenport]."
AU student Kana Ohigashi said coffee is an important part of her routine.
"I feel like I want it every day. ... It's like a habit," Ohigashi said.
Others behave similarly.
"I have one guy that drinks, like, eight shots of espresso a day," Yotsuji said.
While Hogan disagreed with the study, she said drinking too much coffee could be harmful.
"I don't recommend drinking 10 cups of coffee, obviously, but it is definitely better than drinking a whole keg of beer," she said. A moderate amount of coffee is one or two cups a day.
"[I don't] want to be responsible for anyone failing their exams," but moderation is key, Hogan said.
