Coffee and High Blood Pressure – A Causal Relationship?
I love coffee! So much so that I enjoy a cup of Starbucks almost every day. Is this bad for my health? Some people say so.
This was highlighted the other day while having breakfast with a friend. She told me how "lucky" I am to be able to have my coffee every day. She said she couldn't drink coffee anymore due to high blood pressure. Her doctor advised her that this could contribute to her high blood pressure.
I found it interesting that the doctor would have told her to give up coffee rather than three other behaviors which to me, seemed to be of higher concern than drinking coffee: Over-eating, smoking cigarettes and alcohol consumption.
Quite likely, my friend's doctor stressed to her that her weight and smoking habits were contributing to her high blood pressure. Why then did he mention coffee?
I have read no studies where it states that there is a causal link to coffee and hypertension.
Studies I've seen published have shown an a temporary increase in blood pressure after drinking coffee but the increase is not significant.
These studies also show that this increase in blood pressure goes away over time.
Researchers are starting to notice that the reason coffee is so often associated with the actual contributors to hypertension (cigarettes, and obesity) is because many people tend to combine drinking coffee with these bad behaviors.
No. Rather, the studies have shown that people associate the negative lifestyle (cigarettes, over-eating) with drinking coffee. My same friend has foregone her cigarette break if she doesn't have coffee, indicating that the cigarette, "Just doesn't taste the same."
While I'm always excited to read about amazing results from people who've given up coffee and reduced their blood pressure, I'm even more interested in knowing what other bad behaviors where dropped when these people gave up coffee.
Based on evidence, I do not believe that drinking a cup of coffee, even every day will cause high blood pressure. If I believed that, I wouldn't drink it myself.
Regardless of why you have high blood pressure, I think you will benefit from my High Bood Pressure Program. I've seen and documented incredible results from this simple, natural cure.
If weight loss is your concern as well, I recommend my Weight Loss Breeze Program.
EL331001
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December 28 2008 | coffee | No Comments »