If you put cream and sugar in your coffee, the additions could increase your triglycerides, a type of fat that can clog your arteries and put you at risk for heart attacks and strokes. Some evidence also suggests that drinking unfiltered coffee in large amounts could increase your triglycerides. But published research connecting coffee consumption to elevated triglyceride levels is limited and without solid proof.
Unfiltered vs. Filtered Coffee
Two studies found a connection between drinking coffee and elevated triglyceride levels. I.M. Rodrigues and K.D. Klein, researchers at Pennsylvania State University, tested the effects of caffeine alone and coffee on triglycerides. They found that people who drank boiled, unfiltered coffee were more likely than others to have high triglycerides, according to the report in the 2006 issue of “Toxicological Reviews.” The authors also found that drinking coffee corresponded to increased cholesterol levels.
Singapore Study
A more recent study, published in the May 2011 edition of “Nutrition Journal” found that people who daily drank five or more cups of coffee prepared without a filter or by using a Turkey or French press tested higher for triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein – LDL or “bad” cholesterol. N. Naidoo, lead author of the study and a researcher at Singapore’s Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, said drinking filtered coffee did not affect triglyceride levels.
No Direct Cause
The two studies found a correlation but not a direct cause and effect between consumption of unfiltered coffee and elevated triglycerides. More research is needed to determine if coffee drinking puts you at proven risk for high triglycerides. The American Heart Association does not recommend giving up coffee as a means to reduce your triglycerides. The AHA guidelines for lowering triglycerides, based on a review of more than 500 clinical studies, include following a low-fat, low-sugar diet and exercising regularly. The AHA says that drinking 1 to 2 cups of coffee a day will not likely increase your risk for cardiovascular disease.
Considerations
Adding cream, whipped cream, non-dairy creamers or sugar to your coffee could lead to elevations in your triglyceride levels. Some non-dairy creamers, for example, contain a full day’s supply of trans fat in a 1 ounce serving. Limit your daily sugar consumption, including sugar in your coffee, to about 6 teaspoons. Sugar contains 16 calories per teaspoon, and the AHA recommends that you limit sugar to about 100 calories a day.
References
- "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
- "Circulation"; Triglycerides and Cardiovascular Disease A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association; Michael Miller, et al.; April 18, 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
- United States Department of Agriculture Nutrient Database
- American Heart Association; Caffeine and Cardiovascular Disease; September, 2010
