Drinking coffee can have a significant impact on your cholesterol levels, a new study has found.
Multiple studies on the affects of coffee have shown that just two or three cups a day can result in multiple cardiovascular and neurological benefits for the consumer.
However, recent research has discovered that the popular brown drink can have a significant impact on cholesterol levels, especially if the drinker is a man.
A study in the Open Heart journal identified that coffee has a greater impact on the cholesterol levels of men than women, depending on how the coffee is brewed.
Coffee in espresso form had the greatest gender difference while coffee brewed in a cafetiere was shown to have the smallest.
Drinking three to five cups of coffee per day was linked to higher overall cholesterol levels in men than women.
A similar impact was noted in coffee prepared in a cafetiere, but only after six more cups of the popular brew.
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Researchers from the study, conducted by The Arctic University of Norway, wrote: “Coffee is the most frequently consumed central stimulant worldwide.
“Because of the high consumption of coffee, even small health effects can have considerable health consequences.”
It is unclear as to why coffee causes the gender imbalance, as more research is required in this area.
The study also associated coffee with an increased risk of heart disease.
High cholesterol levels are one of the main risk factors for heart disease.
Even so, this shouldn’t stop coffee drinkers from consuming the brew, as previous studies have identified health benefits from the naturally occurring compounds within it.
However, identifying the potential benefits of these compounds can be difficult said researchers as they depend: “On the variety of coffee, species, roasting degree, type of brewing method, and serving size.
“This demonstrates how coffee contains compounds that may lead to multiple mechanisms operating simultaneously.”
It is important to note that there are other factors to consider with regard to cholesterol such as lifestyle choices.
The human body requires high levels of one type of cholesterol and low levels of the other in order to function properly.
The two types of cholesterol are HDL and LDL, high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein, also known as ‘good’ and ‘bad’ cholesterol.
Good cholesterol, HDL, is the form of cholesterol needed to maintain cardiovascular health while bad cholesterol, LDL, forms as a plaque in the arteries and subsequently harms heart health.
Food is the main influencer of cholesterol, and some foods can have a greater impact than others depending on a person’s gender
The NHS recommends increasing exercise, quitting smoking, and cutting down on alcohol consumption as methods to reduce cholesterol levels.
The health service advises at least 150 minutes of exercise per week, the equivalent of two and a half hours.
As well as raising cholesterol, consistently drinking copious amounts of alcohol and smoking can increase an individual’s risk of cancer.
A total of 14 units of alcohol per week is the recommended weekly maximum for adults in the UK.
