Lower your stroke risk by drinking a cup of coffee

If you're a coffee drinker, the news just keeps getting better and better. You probably already know that coffee is associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer's and cognitive decline, type II diabetes and even a possible cancer-fighter. Now it looks like you can add ‘lowers your risk of stroke' to the list of good things this so-called ‘bad habit'cando for you. Here's what Swedish researchers have found about coffee's ability to help reduce your risk of a stroke.

If you’re considering quitting coffee because your loves ones have been telling you to do so, don’t quit just yet.

A Swedish study published in The Journal of the American Heart Association, shows that drinking more than one cup of coffee per day is associated with a 22% to 25% lower stroke risk!

The link between coffee and reducing the risk of a stroke revealed

Researchers found that the positive effect that coffee had on stroke risk was there regardless of whether participants drank one or two cups, three to four cups, or even five or more cups a day.

“Also exciting news was the finding that the lower-risk factor remained even after the researchers looked at smoking status, body-mass index, a history of diabetes, alcohol consumption and hypertension among the volunteers,” writes Alice Wessendorf of Agora Health Books.

In other words, regardless of whether or not you have any of those known heart risks, you may be able to reap the benefits of coffee.

The Swedish researchers offered several possible explanations for how coffee could have this powerful effect.

They found that it may help reduce subclinical inflammation, the same type of inflammation associated with prediabetes and hypertension and could work its magic by helping to reverse oxidative stress.

This makes sense since coffee is packed with antioxidant polyphenols.

Another good thing is that coffee may also improve insulin sensitivity, which has been associated with stroke.

Does it matter if you drink your coffee black or with milk?

If you like to drink your coffee with a dollop of milk, there’s some more good news.

A study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that the addition of whole milk to your favourite morning drink doesn’t affect the bioavailability of the antioxidants in the coffee.

Just be sure you’re using an organic brand of milk. Better yet, if you can get your hands on it, try some raw milk instead.

If you’ve been nagged by your loved ones to give up your coffee habit, this study could mark the last time you have to hear it. So go ahead and fill up your cup of coffee if you haven’t already done so today.

Tags: stroke, reduce your risk of a stroke with coffee, coffee, coffee lowers stroke risk, coffee and stroke, health benefits of coffee