How does coffee affect cholesterol?
The effect of the drink on cholesterol levels is largely due to the presence of cafestol in it, which disrupts metabolism. Because of this, the rate of cholesterol synthesis increases.
With regular consumption of coffee, cholesterol atherosclerotic plaques form in the body. They are formed due to the fact that excess cholesterol settles on the vascular walls. The lumen in the arteries and veins weakens. Internal organs begin to receive less oxygen and nutrients. This poses the greatest danger to the brain and heart. In women with high cholesterol, coffee develops atherosclerosis faster.
Sometimes drinking coffee has a negative effect on the central nervous system. Internal organs begin to receive false signals about a lack of cholesterol. This leads to the development of chronic pathologies that are associated with metabolic disorders.
The effect of coffee on blood cholesterol depends on the variety and preparation technique.
So, if you have high cholesterol levels, it is recommended to refrain from drinking instant drink , since it contains the following substances:
- preservatives;
- flavor enhancers;
- flavorings;
- stabilizers.
These components have a negative effect on the state of the receptors of the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system. However, the cafestol content in this coffee is lower, so it is harmless than black ground beans.
The effect of liquid on blood cholesterol levels is to a lesser extent due to the presence of other important ingredients in its composition:
- Caffeine. It is a powerful stimulant of the nervous system, known for its stimulating effects. As a result of its moderate consumption, drowsiness disappears and mood improves, however, regular overdoses can provoke disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system and exhaustion.
- Sahara. After cooking, they transform into caramel, which turns the beans brown. The level of their content is most often insignificant.
- Fats. They usually break down quickly into acids, so they most often have little effect on cholesterol. However, depending on the degree of processing and quality of the drinks, some of them may remain in their original condition.
- Cellulose . As a result of roasting, it breaks down into amino acids, alcohols, and acids.
Black natural
When answering the question of how natural black coffee affects blood cholesterol, you need to clarify what kind of coffee we are talking about. From this point of view, the most harmful drinks are:
- From a French press. The ground raw materials in a cup are poured with boiling water and time is allowed to brew. As a result, excess amounts of cafestol are released from fats, which remain in the drink.
- Scandinavian. Coffee is boiled several times before drinking. With each new bringing to a boil, the content of cafestol increases.
- Espresso. The most common type of drink, which is prepared in Turks or special units in a few minutes. Contains a lot of cafestol.
There is a less harmful system for preparing the drink, in which coffee is heated in small pots on hot sand. In this case, the liquid does not have time to boil, but is only heated, and the fats it contains do not have time to transform into compounds harmful to health.
Nowadays, most coffee machines have a special paper filter on which the entire cafestol remains. After this, the drink becomes safe for health, and it can be drunk even by patients suffering from atherosclerosis.
Cafein free
It has always been believed that caffeine poses the greatest health hazard. A technology for producing decaffeinated coffee was even developed, while preserving the taste and aroma.
Immediately after this, consumers became concerned about whether such coffee raises cholesterol levels and how much it can raise it. New research has shown that the absence of caffeine has no effect on the content of cafestol. Its content remains the same.
Green coffee
When answering the question whether green coffee increases cholesterol levels in the blood, take into account that its increase occurs after heat treatment. It is believed that green raw materials are a semi-finished product that must be fried before consumption. However, green coffee is ready to drink and does not require any heat treatment. It does not contain cafestol, but it does contain other beneficial ingredients, in particular antioxidants that prevent the development of malignant tumors and cardiovascular diseases.
Green raw materials contain a lot of chlorogenic acid, which restores normal cholesterol levels in the blood. Green coffee does not have a specific aroma like black coffee, but it contains about the same amount of caffeine. In view of this, the green drink has normal stimulating and tonic properties.
Instant coffee
Cafestol is released in liquid during the process of roasting grains and boiling them. An instant drink does not go through these stages, which is why the effect of such coffee on blood cholesterol is minimal. The impact can only increase if the drink undergoes heat treatment.
Instant coffee is made from beans by drying or freezing. In this case, no preservatives or other harmful ingredients are used, completely natural products are formed. However, some components irritate the gastric mucosa and the drink is not recommended for people with diseases of the digestive tract.
What are the benefits and harms
Not everything is so simple with cholesterol, which is actually absent from plant grains. The answer to the question of whether it is in coffee can be given in the negative. But in fact, discussions about harm to blood vessels have every basis. The structure of coffee beans includes an organic component that affects the amount of cholesterol in the blood - cafestol, contained in coffee oils. Its size is determined by the cooking method. Its formation occurs during the brewing process. This substance involves the formation of cholesterol by acting on the nerve endings of the small intestine, which has been substantiated by new research. This is why it is necessary to understand the effect of coffee on cholesterol.
Cafestol leads to the destruction of the functions of the internal process that keeps the amount of dangerous cholesterol under control. Coffee does have an effect on blood cholesterol. Researchers have confirmed that if you drink 5 cups daily for a week, you can increase the harmful substance by 6%, and over a year, with regular use, its value can increase by 12%.
Why does coffee increase cholesterol?
Cafestol irritates intestinal receptors, which causes erroneous signals to appear. They convey information about low sterol content. The liver receives false signals. Their result is increased production of cholesterol. Its level increases slowly, but steadily and steadily. Drinking 5-6 cups of coffee per day raises cholesterol levels by 6-8%, and after 6-12 months it can rise to 12-18%.
The danger increases when drinking coffee with cream and milk. In this case, the level of harmful substances decreases, but the cholesterol content increases due to animal fats. As a result, the body produces its own high cholesterol from coffee and also receives it from the outside.
Another dangerous additive to coffee is sugar . There is no cholesterol in it, but this substance promotes accelerated weight gain. When body weight increases, the balance shifts and cholesterol synthesis increases.
Basic moments
If we do not consider only black coffee, but turn to other popular combinations, it can be noted that a drink with milk will contain cholesterol, because milk contains fats of animal origin.
At first glance, coffee and blood cholesterol are not related to each other, but this is not the case. Scientists have conducted a lot of research and found the answer to the question: does coffee increase cholesterol? The product contains the substance cafestol, which contributes to this. The presence of cafestol depends on the method of preparing the coffee beans. It is formed during the brewing of natural coffee and is also found in oils.
The substance activates the process of cholesterol formation by acting on the receptors of the small intestine. Whether there is a direct connection between coffee drink and cholesterol has been revealed through scientific research.
Exposure to cafestol alters the functioning of the cholesterol-controlling mechanism within. You can avoid the harmful effects of the drink. Of course, people who have problems with blood vessels, especially those with high cholesterol, should not drink it.
Is it possible to drink coffee if you have high cholesterol?
Doctors usually do not recommend drinking coffee if you have high cholesterol. However, there are smart ways to consume the drink without causing harm to your health. So, it can be filtered through a paper funnel. It is allowed to use both purchased disposable filters and clean napkins or towels. All insoluble ingredients remain on their surface, including cafestol. When purchasing a new coffee maker, you need to make sure that it has a filter.
When answering the question whether it is possible to drink coffee with high cholesterol, it is noted that cafestol is released during the cooking of the beans, and it will not be present in instant drinks. Coffee in this form can be consumed when cholesterol levels are off the charts.
