logo
Is that coffee good for you? It depends on how you make it

Is that coffee good for you? It depends on how you make it

Coffee lovers rejoice: your beverage of choice is now recognised as a health-promoting staple. Theories that coffee raised the risk of coronary heart disease have been debunked: a 2022 study by the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology found that people who sipped two to three cups a day had a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and early death than those who didn't.
Such studies need to be read in context. They can't always prove 'cause and effect' as there may be something else about the coffee drinkers' lifestyle that keeps them healthy – perhaps they have better diets overall than non-coffee drinkers. It's encouraging for those who enjoy a flat white though.
Now new research shows that it's not just whether you drink coffee that matters to your health, the way you brew it can have a significant effect on your cholesterol levels and heart health too. The study, released in March from Uppsala University in Sweden and published in the journal Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases found that some methods of coffee preparation can have the unwelcome outcome of raising your low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (aka LDL or 'bad' cholesterol). The researchers suggested a hierarchy of cholesterol-friendly ways of coffee preparation. At the 'bad' end lies Turkish-style boiled and some office-machine coffees, with filtered coffee coming out as the best option, and other methods somewhere in between.
Why does coffee spike your cholesterol?
Coffee does not in itself contain cholesterol. But the beans contain natural oils which include two chemical compounds called cafestol and kahweol, and it's the mechanism of these on the body that can raise cholesterol levels.
Loading
David Iggman is a GP, and an associate professor in clinical nutrition at Uppsala University. 'Cafestol and kahweol are lipid molecules called diterpines,' he says. 'They are unique to coffee beans and have similar properties to cholesterol.'
Diterpenes interfere with the body's natural processes of cholesterol breakdown and transport, potentially leading to an increase in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, while also decreasing the 'healthy' HDL cholesterol. Scientists still don't understand exactly why this happens, but have known since the late 1990s that 'boiled' coffee, made on the stove, is particularly high in diterpenes.
'Many types of office hot drinks machines brew their coffee in a similar way to the boiled variety,' explains Iggman. 'In Swedish workplaces, there are almost mandatory breaks around these machines, and so we decided to test them.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Matilda Djerf: Swedish influencer opens up about 2020 ectopic pregnancy in new post
Matilda Djerf: Swedish influencer opens up about 2020 ectopic pregnancy in new post

7NEWS

time6 days ago

  • 7NEWS

Matilda Djerf: Swedish influencer opens up about 2020 ectopic pregnancy in new post

Swedish influencer and fashion designer Matilda Djerf has shared her experience five years after undergoing emergency surgery in a vulnerable Instagram post. In a post to her 2.7 million followers, the influencer revealed that she had surgery to remove an ectopic pregnancy in July 2020. An ectopic pregnancy is a serious medical condition that occurs when a fertilised egg grows outside the uterus, most commonly in a fallopian tube. The condition will become life-threatening if left untreated, causing ruptures and severe internal bleeding. In Australia, ectopic pregnancies are estimated to account for 1.6% of pregnancies. Djerf said that she was experiencing the 'most intense stomach pain' she ever had, however she had initially brushed them off as routine menstrual cramps. After the 'constant and intense' agony lasted two days, the 27-year-old social media star presented to the hospital and was rushed into emergency surgery. Loading Instagram Post 'They removed my left fallopian tube – I have my three scars on my stomach that remind me of that day. 'It was so painful physically, but even more so mentally afterwards – five years later, I still find myself worrying about future pregnancies. 'Every year on the 14th of July, I think about that same day in 2020 with so much gratitude for the help I received, but with sadness for the pain I went through.' Djerf said she chose to share her story publicly to raise awareness about the condition. 'I didn't even know what an ectopic pregnancy was when I was going through it, so when I felt strong enough afterwards, I made a promise to continue sharing as the years pass to raise awareness of what an ectopic pregnancy is. 'Over the years since sharing, I have received many painful but important messages from others who have gone through the same experience. 'In these connections I've found strength and in that, I think the healing journey has continued and will continue.' The Djerf Avenue founder's fans flooded her comments with words of support. 'I've never seen anyone speak about this, such lack of awareness around ectopic pregnancies – my experience still pains me every day,' one follower commented. 'It's so important to raise awareness and show that this can and does happen to women all over the world,' another supporter said. 'Your courage to share helps others heal too,' a third fan chimed in.

Swedish influencer gets vulnerable about ectopic pregnancy
Swedish influencer gets vulnerable about ectopic pregnancy

Perth Now

time15-07-2025

  • Perth Now

Swedish influencer gets vulnerable about ectopic pregnancy

Swedish influencer and fashion designer Matilda Djerf has shared her experience five years after undergoing emergency surgery in a vulnerable Instagram post. In a post to her 2.7 million followers, the influencer revealed that she had surgery to remove an ectopic pregnancy in July 2020. An ectopic pregnancy is a serious medical condition that occurs when a fertilised egg grows outside the uterus, most commonly in a fallopian tube. The condition will become life-threatening if left untreated, causing ruptures and severe internal bleeding. In Australia, ectopic pregnancies are estimated to account for 1.6% of pregnancies. Djerf said that she was experiencing the 'most intense stomach pain' she ever had, however she had initially brushed them off as routine menstrual cramps. After the 'constant and intense' agony lasted two days, the 27-year-old social media star presented to the hospital and was rushed into emergency surgery. 'They removed my left fallopian tube – I have my three scars on my stomach that remind me of that day. 'It was so painful physically, but even more so mentally afterwards – five years later, I still find myself worrying about future pregnancies. 'Every year on the 14th of July, I think about that same day in 2020 with so much gratitude for the help I received, but with sadness for the pain I went through.' The Djerf Avenue founder had her left fallopian tube removed in the emergency surgery. Credit: Supplied Djerf said she chose to share her story publicly to raise awareness about the condition. 'I didn't even know what an ectopic pregnancy was when I was going through it, so when I felt strong enough afterwards, I made a promise to continue sharing as the years pass to raise awareness of what an ectopic pregnancy is. 'Over the years since sharing, I have received many painful but important messages from others who have gone through the same experience. 'In these connections I've found strength and in that, I think the healing journey has continued and will continue.' The Djerf Avenue founder's fans flooded her comments with words of support. 'I've never seen anyone speak about this, such lack of awareness around ectopic pregnancies – my experience still pains me every day,' one follower commented. 'It's so important to raise awareness and show that this can and does happen to women all over the world,' another supporter said. 'Your courage to share helps others heal too,' a third fan chimed in.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store