Use coffee filters to reduce your lousy LDL cholesterol
Grabbing a cup of coffee at work is a time-honored tradition -- to boost your ability to concentrate on tasks at hand and to socialize for a couple of minutes with colleagues. In fact, one survey found that two-thirds of folks say they start their workday with a cup of coffee -- and most drink three cups at their desk or workstation.
I'm a huge fan of the benefits that come from drinking coffee (decaf has benefits, too). According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, the benefits include protection from death from coronary heart disease, diabetes and stroke (for women), protection from liver problems, reduced risk of Parkinson's and more! But you need to avoid excess, heart-pounding, sleep-disrupting amounts of caffeine. And you need to brew your coffee in the most healthful way.
A study in Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases shows that coffee brewed in workplace machines can up your intake of compounds that increase your lousy LDL cholesterol level -- and consequently increase your risk of clogged arteries and heart disease. The researchers estimated that replacing three cups per day of brewing machine coffee with paper-filtered coffee would lower your risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease by as much as 13% over five years or 36% over 40 years.
At home, you also want to drink filtered coffee -- not French press or from unfiltered pods (you can get filtered pods). And avoid added sugars and creamers that erase the heart-helpful benefits of filtered coffee. For more info on healthful beverages, check out my "What to Eat When Cookbook."
Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. Check out his latest, "The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow," and find out more at www.longevityplaybook.com. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Mike at questions@longevityplaybook.com.
(c)2023 Michael Roizen, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
(c) 2025 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
Comments