My wife and I recently met a longtime friend of my wife’s for breakfast; however, “Nancy’s” favorite diner with the “incredible” coffee had recently closed. Now lamenting the loss of the great coffee, we decided on a favorite alternative – the nearby Starbucks.
While remarking on the great quality of the coffee, Nancy informed us that she was thinking of giving up coffee, even though she loved it, because of her hypertension. “I’ve done the analysis, I don’t eat much salt, I don’t drink alcohol…it must be the coffee. It’s disappointing, as I really only have one ‘Grande’ coffee per day.”
That was curious to me as I only drink one big cup of coffee per day and don’t suffer from hypertension – high blood pressure. Of course, unlike Nancy, I’m also not 50 pounds overweight and smoking a pack and a half of cigarettes per day.
While there is unequivocal evidence that smoking cigarettes, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, and certain other dietary factors do affect hypertension, there has been no clear evidence to support the claim that coffee affects hypertension.
There is also no clear evidence that drinking coffee contributes, even slightly, to the development of hypertension.
Some studies have shown that drinking coffee does raise one’s blood pressure slightly, but only temporarily. In fact, these same studies have shown that over time, this slight increase in blood pressure is reduced.
More recent studies have been focused on the link between drinking coffee and smoking or drinking coffee and weight gain. The results of these studies, while not all causal links, still aren’t positive.
As far as smoking is concerned, while the answer is by no means yet definitive, studies have shown an increased link between increased blood pressure when smoking and drinking coffee, compared to doing either alone.
While some fad diets will promote coffee because of the caffeine for weight loss, the studies just don’t back this up. Caffeine can affect the brain’s production of adenosine, which is responsible for “calming” you down. The short term edginess that accompanies caffeine has shown to actually increase food cravings.
Another consideration when drinking coffee, decaffeinated or not, is that many of us associate coffee with eating and we tend to eat less healthy food - doughnuts, pastries, etc.
Likewise, for many, coffee and cigarette smoking go hand in hand. Many associate these things with habits or routines; say a coffee break at work. Some people will even forgo coffee if they don’t have a cigarette, as it “just doesn’t taste the same.”
I’ve read amazing studies about people who changed from coffee to green tea and saw all kinds of positive outcomes – including lowered blood pressure. What I would like to see is what other negative behaviors they gave up as a result, i.e., “The cigarette just didn’t taste the same without the coffee.”
As with most things in life, I recommend coffee in moderation if you (like me) just need or really enjoy the boost. I suggest one cup of good quality coffee per day and really savor it.
Regardless of how coffee or other substances may or may not contribute to hypertension, my High Blood Pressure Program can and does provide dramatic results. The exercises are simple but so effective that even lifelong sufferers are now believers in this completely natural cure. In addition, I also suggest my Weight Loss Breeze Program especially if you suffer from both conditions.
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