Study: Up to five cups of coffee a day may be not only safe but potentially beneficial

Drinking up to five cups of coffee a day may be safe and could even offer health benefits for most healthy adults, according to recent research on cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other health effects of coffee, reports Tagesschau. Coffee and its impact on the human body have been the subject of scientific research and debate for around 150 years, with views on its health effects changing repeatedly over time.

According to recent data from the American Heart Association (AHA), moderate coffee consumption — up to 400 mg of caffeine per day — is considered safe for most healthy adults and may even be associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. The AHA estimates that this amount is roughly equivalent to three to five 240-ml cups of black coffee. However, the actual caffeine content can vary considerably, so counting cups is only a rough guide.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) likewise considers up to 400 mg of caffeine per day a safe level for healthy adults. According to EFSA estimates, a 200-ml serving of filtered coffee contains around 90 mg of caffeine, while a 60-ml espresso contains approximately 80 mg. For pregnant women, however, EFSA recommends limiting caffeine intake to 200 mg per day.

Individual recommendations may differ for people with certain medical conditions or those taking medications. Temporary increases in heart rate and blood pressure, as well as palpitations or feelings of anxiety in sensitive individuals, can occur after caffeine consumption. According to Omar Hahad of the University Medical Center Mainz, the body may adapt to some of these effects with regular coffee consumption.

Coffee may also be linked to lower diabetes risk

“Numerous studies have shown that people who regularly drink coffee have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared with those who rarely drink coffee or do not drink it at all,” says Matthias Schulze of the German Institute of Human Nutrition.

Interestingly, the association has also been observed with decaffeinated coffee. Compared with people who completely avoided coffee, those who consumed six cups a day had an approximately 33% lower statistically significant risk of developing diabetes in the data cited by the researchers.

“This means that it is probably not caffeine itself that is responsible, but other components of coffee,” Schulze suggests.

Coffee is not a prescription for better health

Despite these findings, researchers caution against interpreting the results as a recommendation that everyone should start drinking large amounts of coffee.

Studies on coffee consumption generally show associations rather than proving that coffee itself directly prevents disease. There is also no single scientifically established coffee intake that can guarantee a longer or healthier life for everyone.

For most healthy adults, moderate caffeine consumption appears to be safe, but individual tolerance, health conditions, medications and pregnancy should all be taken into account.

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