Cholesterol & French Press Coffee
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Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in every cell in the body. Cholesterol is necessary for many life-sustaining metabolic functions, but too much cholesterol in the bloodstream indicates an elevated risk of heart disease. Cholesterol can build up inside artery walls, hardening the arteries and constraining blood flow. Greasy high-fat foods are often associated with high cholesterol, but coffee, if boiled or brewed in a French press, may also affect cholesterol levels.
History
In 1983, researchers from the Institute of Community Medicine at the University of Tromso, Norway, reported a correlation between coffee drinking and elevated serum cholesterol levels. In 1986 and 1987, these same researchers evaluated more than 18,000 adults to determine if the method of brewing coffee had any bearing on cholesterol levels. Comparing the locally prevalent method of boiling coffee with filtered coffee and instant coffee use, the researchers determined that boiled coffee was associated with substantially higher cholesterol levels than the other two methods of preparation. Results did not vary relative to caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee. The researchers reported in the Oct. 29, 1988, "British Medical Journal" that the length of time the coffee grounds were in contact with the hot water might be a factor in the coffee-cholesterol relationship.
Conflicting Results
Through the early 1990s, studies on the relationship between coffee consumption and cholesterol resulted in conflicting results. Researchers at the National College of Chiropractic in Lombard, Illinois, undertook an extensive review of literature to discern the root of the inconsistent information. Citing clinical irregularities in many of the reviewed studies, the researchers nonetheless reported in the June 1993 "Journal of Manipulative Physiological Therapy" that coffee brewing methods appeared to correlate with elevated serum cholesterol levels. Across the studies reviewed, boiled coffee appeared to be consistently associated with higher cholesterol levels than did filtered or instant coffee. No mechanism was defined to account for this result. French press coffee is brewed by pouring boiling water into coffee grounds, which are then pressed to the bottom of the glass French press canister and left to continue steeping within the hot water. This method differs only slightly from Scandinavian or cowboy-style boiled coffee, in which the grounds are brought to a boil in the water.
Cafestol and French Press Coffee
In 2007, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, discovered that cafestol, a component of coffee independent of caffeine, is responsible for the elevated levels of cholesterol associated with non-filtered coffee drinking. Cafestol interferes with a receptor in the intestines that would otherwise regulate serum cholesterol, causing cholesterol to rise even in otherwise healthy people. French press coffee, along with boiled coffee and espresso, contain the highest levels of cafestol, as cafestol is removed by paper filters. The Baylor College of Medicine research also indicated that permanent metal mesh filters do not remove cafestol as effectively as paper filters.
Other Considerations
Blood cholesterol levels are a combination of many factors, including diet, lifestyle and genetics, Dr. Michael J. Klag of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine told MSNBC News. While people who drink unfiltered French press coffee should have their cholesterol checked, if their cholesterol level is within healthy limits, changes in coffee brewing methods do not necessarily have to be made. If you have high cholesterol, switch from French press coffee to coffee made with a paper filter, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. Consult your doctor to obtain an accurate picture of your cholesterol levels and cardiovascular health risks in order to make an informed decision regarding whether or not to drink French press coffee.
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References
- "British Medical Journal"; Coffee and Cholesterol: Is It All In the Brewing? The Tromso Study; Kaare Bonaa et al.; Oct. 29, 1988
- "Journal of Manipulative Physiological Therapy"; The Effect of Coffee Consumption on Serum Cholesterol Levels; K. Kokjohn et al.; June 1993
- Baylor College of Medicine; Researchers Discover How Coffee Raises Cholesterol; Dipali Pathak; June 13, 2007
- Harvard School of Public Health; Ask the Expert: Coffee and Health; Dr. Rob van Dam
