- April 4, 2025
If you’re one of the millions who relies on coffee to kickstart your day, you might have heard conflicting reports about its potential effects on your heart. For years, coffee has been subject to scrutiny, with some studies suggesting that excessive consumption could harm your cardiovascular system, particularly by stiffening your arteries. However, new research offers a comforting conclusion: even consuming high amounts of coffee—up to 25 cups a day—won’t negatively impact your arteries or increase your risk of heart disease or stroke.
This surprising finding comes from a study funded by the British Heart Foundation and conducted by researchers at Queen Mary University of London. The study was recently presented at the British Cardiovascular Society Annual Conference, where the researchers explained their in-depth exploration of coffee consumption and its effects on heart health.
So, how exactly did researchers reach this conclusion, and what does it mean for your daily coffee habit? Let’s take a closer look.
In this groundbreaking study, researchers aimed to determine whether high levels of coffee consumption led to arterial stiffening—a condition that can increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Arterial stiffness makes it harder for blood to flow efficiently through your arteries, forcing the heart to work harder to pump blood. Over time, this can lead to various cardiovascular issues, including high blood pressure, stroke, and heart attacks.
To understand the link between coffee and arterial health, researchers from Queen Mary University of London recruited 8,412 participants. These individuals were divided into three groups based on their daily coffee consumption:
Participants underwent several tests, including infrared pulse wave tests and MRI scans, to assess the stiffness of their arteries. The researchers also accounted for various lifestyle factors, such as age, smoking status, weight, and blood pressure, which could affect cardiovascular health.
Surprisingly, the study found that even the participants in the third group—those who drank more than three cups of coffee per day, including individuals who drank up to 25 cups—did not experience significant arterial stiffening. The researchers concluded that drinking coffee, even in large quantities, does not pose a significant risk to arterial health.
One of the most important takeaways from this study is the reassurance it provides to regular coffee drinkers. Previous studies had suggested that coffee could contribute to cardiovascular problems by hardening the arteries, but this research dispels that concern. Even individuals who consumed large amounts of coffee showed no signs of increased arterial stiffness, meaning their risk of heart disease or stroke was no higher than those who drank little to no coffee.
The study also addressed the common concern that caffeine, the primary stimulant in coffee, might be the culprit behind these health risks. While caffeine has been shown to increase blood pressure and heart rate temporarily, these effects do not seem to translate into long-term damage to the arteries or an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Professor Metin Avkiran, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, commented on the study’s findings, noting that they should help clear up some of the confusion surrounding coffee’s effects on heart health. “This research will hopefully put some of the media reports in perspective, as it rules out one of the potential detrimental effects of coffee on our arteries,” he said.
While the study suggests that even extreme coffee consumption may not harm your arteries, this doesn’t mean you should start drinking 25 cups of coffee daily. Drinking excessive amounts of coffee can still lead to other health issues, such as anxiety, insomnia, digestive problems, and jitteriness. Moderation is key when it comes to coffee, just as it is with most things.
For those following a Bulletproof lifestyle or interested in optimizing their energy and cognitive performance, the goal is not to rely on large quantities of coffee to get through the day. Instead, a more balanced approach to caffeine intake—coupled with good nutrition, sleep, and lifestyle habits—can help you maintain steady energy levels and mental clarity without relying on multiple cups of coffee.
Here are a few tips for using coffee strategically to boost your performance without overloading your system with caffeine:
If you’re looking to supercharge your performance, Bulletproof Coffee offers a better way to enjoy your daily caffeine fix without the typical energy crashes. Bulletproof Coffee combines high-quality coffee beans with grass-fed butter or ghee and Brain Octane Oil (a medium-chain triglyceride, or MCT, oil). This unique blend provides sustained energy without the jitters or mid-day crashes that often come from drinking regular coffee.
The key here is the combination of healthy fats and high-quality coffee. The fats from the butter or ghee slow down the absorption of caffeine, providing a smoother and longer-lasting energy boost. Meanwhile, the Brain Octane Oil fuels your brain with ketones, which can enhance cognitive function and help you stay focused for hours.
Unlike regular coffee, which can leave you reaching for another cup just to maintain your energy, Bulletproof Coffee keeps your energy levels stable and reduces the need for constant caffeine top-ups.
While coffee can provide a temporary energy boost, it’s important to support your body with the right foods to maintain long-lasting energy and mental clarity. A nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory diet is essential for sustaining high performance throughout the day. This means cutting down on sugar, processed foods, and refined carbohydrates, which can sap your energy and lead to crashes.
Instead, focus on whole, nutrient-rich foods like organic vegetables, grass-fed meats, wild-caught fish, and high-quality fats such as avocados, olive oil, and coconut oil. These foods support brain function, stabilize blood sugar, and keep you full for hours, preventing the energy dips that lead to cravings for more coffee or snacks.
The Bulletproof Diet is a great guide for incorporating these foods into your daily routine. By prioritizing anti-inflammatory, high-nutrient foods, you’ll naturally have more energy and mental focus without needing to rely on excessive amounts of caffeine.
Even if coffee helps you power through the day, it’s no substitute for a good night’s sleep. Sleep is essential for brain health, hormone balance, and overall well-being. Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to fatigue, cognitive impairment, and increased stress levels—none of which can be fixed by drinking more coffee.
To optimize your sleep, focus on improving your sleep hygiene. This means creating a relaxing bedtime routine, limiting exposure to screens and blue light before bed, and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule. Aim for seven to nine hours of quality sleep each night to give your brain and body the rest they need to function at their best.
Good sleep habits will improve your focus, productivity, and mood throughout the day, reducing the need to rely on coffee as a crutch for energy.
While coffee can be a helpful tool for enhancing focus and productivity, it’s important not to rely on it as your primary energy source. Over time, excessive caffeine consumption can lead to tolerance, meaning you’ll need more coffee to achieve the same effects. It can also disrupt your natural sleep patterns, leading to a vicious cycle of poor sleep and caffeine dependence.
Instead of relying on coffee to keep you going, focus on building healthy habits that naturally increase your energy and cognitive function. This includes regular exercise, stress management techniques, and a balanced diet. By prioritizing these habits, you’ll find that you need less coffee to feel energized and alert.
The results of this new study should provide some relief for coffee lovers who worry about the impact of their favorite beverage on their heart health. Whether you enjoy one cup of coffee a day or several, the research suggests that your coffee habit is unlikely to harm your arteries or increase your risk of heart disease or stroke.
That said, moderation is still important. While the study found that even heavy coffee drinkers did not experience arterial stiffening, consuming too much coffee can lead to other issues like anxiety, digestive problems, and disrupted sleep.
For those following the Bulletproof lifestyle, the focus should be on optimizing your coffee consumption by choosing high-quality, mold-free beans and incorporating them into a balanced routine that includes proper nutrition, sleep, and stress management.
So, go ahead and enjoy your coffee, knowing that it won’t stiffen your arteries or damage your heart—as long as you consume it mindfully and in moderation. And if you’re looking to take your coffee game to the next level, Bulletproof Coffee offers a powerful way to boost your energy and brainpower without the crashes.
nataly@bioupgraded.com
@bioupgraded
Dallas, TX, USA
