June 29, 2018.
According to a study conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Düsseldorf, Germany, you would need to drink four cups of coffee a day to be sure of maintaining good heart health.
The role of caffeine on the heart
We always have a little trouble knowing if coffee is good for the heart. Recent studies have shed light on its virtues, but until now we did not know the limit that should be imposed in order not to endanger our heart health. However, according to a study published in the journal Plos Biology, the cardioprotective effects of coffee are achieved after four cups a day.
After showing that caffeine improves the functioning of blood vessel cells, the authors of this work focused all their research on the p27 protein. Present in the nucleus of cells, this protein would play a role in the onset of cardiovascular disease. Another discovery: caffeine allows the movement of p27 to the mitochondria, which allows cardiovascular cells to be better protected.
Recommended caffeine for the elderly
” Our results indicate a new mode of action for caffeine », Commented Judith Handeler, professor at the University of Düsseldorf. A mode of action which ” promotes the protection and repair of the heart muscle thanks to the action of p27 “. Clearly, according to the researchers, a person who suffers from heart problems should not deprive themselves of coffee. Quite the contrary. She just shouldn’t drink too much of it.
For Judith Handeler, this work should make it possible to set up ” best strategies to protect the heart muscle, including taking into account the consumption of coffee or caffeine as an additional dietary factor in the elderly population “. However, this diet should always be accompanied by regular physical activity and a healthy diet.
Marine Rondot
To find out more: For or against coffee?
