For a long time, coffee was suspected of increasing blood cholesterol. A no-go for people who have to watch their cholesterol levels. It is all the more surprising what a new study from Canada has found.
Until now, people struggling with high cholesterol levels had to think carefully about whether they really wanted to drink a cup of coffee. Because supposedly the hot drink increases the cholesterol level. Scientists from McMaster University in Canada have now found something surprising. The caffeine contained in coffee apparently has exactly the opposite effect: a positive effect on cholesterol.
Does Coffee Really Increase Cholesterol?
The assumption that the caffeine contained in coffee increases the cholesterol level is wrong. Instead, the chemical compounds cafestol and kahweol are to blame. These increase the LDL cholesterol in the blood. LDL cholesterol is commonly referred to as the «bad» cholesterol.
When the coffee is filtered, only small amounts of cafestol and kahweol get into the drink and therefore have no negative effects on cholesterol levels.1
Also interesting: With a filter or as an espresso? The healthiest way to prepare coffee
“Good” and “bad” cholesterol
Cholesterol is a vital building block in the human body. It is needed to build the cell membrane and to make bile acids, vitamin D and hormones such as estrogen and testosterone. Only one-third of the cholesterol you need should come from food. The body produces the rest itself.2
In order to be transported in the blood, the cholesterol combines with protein to form so-called lipoproteins. Depending on their composition, these lipoproteins are divided into:
- VLDL cholesterol, a precursor to LDL cholesterol that transports triglycerides and cholesterol from the liver to other cells in the body,
- LDL cholesterol, which transports cholesterol from the liver to other cellular tissues for further processing, and
- HDL cholesterol, which transports excess cholesterol back to the liver for breakdown.
If the LDL cholesterol level in the blood is too high – for example due to an unhealthy diet – the excess cholesterol can be deposited in the arterial walls and lead to arteriosclerosis there. This vascular calcification promotes other diseases such as strokes and heart attacks.
Also interesting: What should you watch out for when it comes to cholesterol levels HDL, LDL and triglycerides?
The effect of caffeine on LDL cholesterol
Recent studies have already shown that the consumption of caffeinated coffee and tea reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.3 However, until now there has been no evidence at the biochemical level. The researchers at McMaster University are now providing this. They found that caffeine can help prevent cardiovascular disease by lowering LDL cholesterol in the blood.
Also interesting: Lower high cholesterol levels naturally – tips from specialists
The scientists discovered a connection between the regular consumption of caffeine and the level of the protein PCSK9 in the bloodstream. This protein supports the liver’s ability to break down excess LDL cholesterol. However, caffeine does not directly affect PCSK9. Instead, regular consumption of caffeine blocks the activation of the blood protein SREBP2. This in turn reduces PCSK9.4
«Given that SREBP2 is implicated in a variety of cardio-metabolic diseases such as diabetes and fatty liver, the weakening of its function has far-reaching implications,» said study leader Richard Austin, professor in McMaster University’s Department of Medicine. 5
Also interesting: healthy or unhealthy? Study shows effect of coffee on the liver
Conclusion
Of course, drinking coffee alone is not enough to lower your cholesterol level. Instead, you should pay attention to a balanced diet. Experts recommend e.g. B. the Mediterranean cuisine. The level of exercise and lifestyle factors such as alcohol consumption and smoking also affect cholesterol levels and the associated risk of cardiovascular disease. But a healthy lifestyle can start with drinking coffee, as Richard Austin explained when announcing the study’s results: «Coffee and tea drinkers have another important health reason to be happy – when they cut out sugar.»