When it comes to heart health, coffee is complicated.
Before you pour that second cup, read this.
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Coffee is powerful stuff.
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And not just because it gets you going in the morning.
Yet, as impressive as coffee is, some research suggests it may increase cholesterol levels.
Should you be concerned?
To find out, we asked the experts.
Heres what they want you to know.
This waxy substance is found in every cell in our body.
On the other hand, LDL is known as bad cholesterol.
The Link Between Coffee and Cholesterol
Remember that your liver makes cholesterol?
The same goes for other animals.
So, unless a food (or drink) comes from an animal, it cant contain cholesterol.
How, then, does coffee raise cholesterol?
Coffee may best be known for its caffeine, but it contains over 1,000 bioactive compounds.
It’s All About the Brew
Coffees tendency to boost cholesterol depends on several factors.
The most important is how its prepared, concludes a 2022 study published in the journalOpen Heart.
Filtering coffee blocks its diterpene-containing oils from reaching your mug, explains Kimberlain.
How Much Coffee Is Safe for Your Cholesterol Levels?
The amount of coffee you drink matters, toobut mostly if youre really pounding it.
But what you stir into your cup of joe matters more.
Excessive add-ins like saturated-fat-heavy cream, half-and-half and creamers may increase the risk of high cholesterol.
But lets be honest, not everyone likes to drink their coffee black and unsweetened.
In fact, only about 41% of U.S. coffee drinkers do, per the market research firmDrive Research.
If you cant do black, consider adding a splash of milk while limiting the amount of added sugar.
The Bigger Picture
What does this mean for your heart health?
The answer might surprise you.
But even if you drink more, theres no need to stress.
So, consider your personal tolerance and health history, especially if you already have heart troubles.
