To obtain an accurate cholesterol test, abstain from drinking anything but water for nine to 12 hours before the test, according to MayoClinic.com. Drinking a little of either may not significantly affect test results but, if you eat or drink anything during the fasting period, ask your doctor whether you should reschedule your blood screening.
Cholesterol Test
A cholesterol test measures three types of lipids in your bloodstream – low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein and triglycerides. Ideally, your LDL cholesterol – “bad” cholesterol – will measure below 130 mg/dl, your HDL – “good” cholesterol – will test higher than 60 mg/dl and your triglycerides, a type of fat, will measure below 150 mg/dl – milligrams per deciliter of blood. Your results will also reveal your total cholesterol, an amount that includes the sum of your LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol and 20 percent of your triglycerides. Your total cholesterol should measure below 200 mg/dl.
Coffee and Cholesterol
If you drink large amounts of unfiltered coffee, the habit could elevate your triglyceride levels, according to two studies. A Pennsylvania State University, co-authored by I.M. Rodrigues and K.D. Klein, found that people who drank boiled, unfiltered coffee tested higher for triglycerides than people who drank filtered coffee, according to the report in the 2006 issue of “Toxicological Reviews.” A study out of Singapore found that people who drank five or more cups a day of unfiltered coffee tested higher both for triglycerides and LDL cholesterol. N. Naidoo, of the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, published his findings in the May 2011 edition of “Nutrition Journal.”
Green Tea and Cholesterol
Drinking green tea may lower your cholesterol levels, according to a review of 14 studies. X.X. Zheng and other researchers from China analyzed the effects of green tea consumption on 1,136 people and reported that green tea significantly reduced LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Drinking tea did not affect HDL cholesterol, according to the analysis published in the August 2011 edition of the “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.” The results of the coffee and tea studies do not mean that drinking these beverages during a pre-cholesterol test fast would necessarily distort test results. But they do suggest that drinking unfiltered tea or green tea may play roles in your cardiovascular health.
Considerations
Long-term habits will more likely affect your cholesterol levels and your overall health than drinking a cup of coffee or tea before a blood cholesterol test. If you routinely follow a high-fat, high-sugar diet, your cholesterol levels may test high even if you adhere to the fasting guidelines. Other risk factors for high cholesterol include obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, lack of exercise, smoking and drinking more than moderate amounts of alcohol. Some factors beyond your control, such as your age, gender and family history of heart disease, also affect the results of a cholesterol test.
References
- MayoClinic.com; High Cholesterol -- Tests and Diagnosis; June 1, 2011
- "Toxicological Reviews"; Boiled or Filtered Coffee? Effects of Coffee and Caffeine on Cholesterol, Fibrinogen and C-Reactive Protein; I.M. Rodrigues and L.C. Klein; 2006
- "Nutrition Journal"; Cholesterol-Raising Diterpenes in Types of Coffee Commonly Consumed in Singapore, Indonesia and India and Associations with Blood Lipids: A Survey and Cross Sectional Study; N. Naidoo, et al.; May 2011
- “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition”; Green Tea Intake Lowers Fasting Serum Total and LDL Cholesterol in Adults: A Meta-Analysis of 14 Randomized Controlled Trials; X.X. Zheng; August 2011
- MayoClinic.com; High Cholesterol -- Risk Factors; June 1, 2011
- MayoClinic.com; High Cholesterol -- Lifestyle and Home Remedies; June 1, 2011
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