Coffee, Your Heart, And The Heart Of Lifeboost Coffee

If you don’t mind, I’d like to begin today’s topic on a personal note…

Tomorrow marks four years since my dad suffered a massive heart attack. So, as we’ll be discussing coffee and heart health today, this subject matter hits a bit differently.

And, as prevalent as heart disease is in the US, with one in five deaths being linked to the disease, it is likely this subject matter may be personal for you as well.

In the case of my dad, four years ago he had been enjoying a more leisurely lifestyle since retirement the year prior, and this afforded time for weekly breakfast outings with a lifelong friend.

If not for those routine outings, he may not be here today, for on this particular morning in late January, their breakfast location happened to be located near one of the best hospitals in the area.

I can remember him later recalling the event, sharing his symptoms which prompted his friend to take him to the nearby hospital.

“I just knew something wasn’t right. I was feeling worse and worse, then I started sweating, even though it was bitterly cold outside. I remember walking through the ER doors. I don’t know how I walked in there. I thought for sure I was going to faint. And, the next thing I knew I was all the way up here in Columbus. They said I’d had a massive heart attack.”

It took me three and a half hours to get to the hospital after receiving the news, and during my worried drive, I called my cousin, or as you all know him, Lifeboost CEO, Dr. Charles, to let him know what had happened.

The next several days were kind of a blur.

Then, I can vividly recall visiting my dad at his home the weekend he was released. I hadn’t been there but maybe 10 minutes before he asked me to “give Charlie a call.”

And, during that call Charlie said that he would be sending my dad some coffee.

Of course, he’s sent him Lifeboost coffee in the past, but generally my dad viewed organic specialty coffees as unnecessary. Honestly, he’s pretty set in his ways, so even switching coffee brands was normally something that wouldn’t interest him.

I mean, he’d been drinking the same, mass produced, fairly common brand of coffee, since he was roughly 18 years old, generally sipping this while smoking cigarettes.

Overall, health just wasn’t something my dad felt he needed to be concerned about. In fact, I think he’d agree with my saying that he took his health for granted.

But, after his heart attack, all of that changed.

Not only did he stop smoking, he also started making many dietary and lifestyle changes, including making the switch to Lifeboost.

But, other than keeping with the topic of heart health and coffee, which we’ll discuss in depth in a moment, why would I detail all of these things above?

Because, something as simple as sending healthy coffee to a loved one displays exactly what we’re all about here at Lifeboost.

The Lifeboost Difference

The things we do, both large and seemingly small, in our years, months, days, and minutes in this world have great meaning.

And, as a coffee company, this is where our focus lies…within this bigger picture.

We think of the future of our planet as we incorporate sustainable growing practices and support charities which protect the regions where our coffee is grown and beyond.

But, we think of people with each of our decisions and practices as well.

• We’ve detailed and are committed to following a set of standards (our Trust Pure Process) to ensure each cup of Lifeboost Coffee is clean, pure, and healthy.

• We never use pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides, and other harsh chemicals when growing our coffee, knowing that these can each wreak havoc on our soils, forests, wildlife, and our bodies as we consume each cup.

• Lifeboost coffee is single origin, low acid, and grows to maturity very slowly at high altitudes under a canopy of shade from surrounding plants, allowing the coffee cherries to absorb more nutrients throughout this time.

• This means as we enjoy the flavor of each sip, we’re also enjoying more potent health benefits.

• Each coffee cherry is hand selected, meticulously processed, then third party tested for molds, mycotoxins, heavy metals, and 450+ other toxins.

• As each of these contaminants can greatly diminish health, we take every extra measure to ensure we’re not putting these into our bodies while sipping the world’s favorite beverage.

We pay attention to these details (and more) because we want to make a difference in this world.

Needless to say, we also pay attention to these details because we drink Lifeboost coffee.

And, we pay attention to these details because you drink Lifeboost coffee.

Both science and personal experience have taught us that what we put into our bodies either fuels health or it fuels disease.

Coffee has the potential to bring a wide range of health benefits to your body, from providing energy, reducing inflammation, protecting your liver, and so much more, including many boosts that contribute to a healthy heart.

So, without further ado, let’s explore the many ways coffee has been proven to positively impact the health of your heart.

Coffee And Your Heart

For many years, coffee seemed to be demonized in relation to heart health, as the caffeine content of coffee was thought to increase heart rate and amplify symptoms of anxiety, high blood pressure, etc.

However, the more the experts learn of the powerful health boosting compounds in this brew, the more we’ve learned of how moderation is the key to not only eliminating those risks, but reaping powerful heart healthy rewards instead.

It’s also important to note that many of the former connections to coffee and poor heart health failed to consider the fact that most participants in these studies were also lifelong smokers, something we now know increases the risk of heart disease.

But, back to healthy coffee consumption…

Moderate coffee intake is defined as 2-5 cups consumed daily.

And, the following cardiovascular health benefits are each associated with consuming, or rather enjoying, a moderate amount of coffee each day.

1- Reduced Risk Of AFib

Coffee contains powerful antioxidants and other heart health boosting compounds such as chlorogenic acid, cafestol, polyphenols, quinide, and trigonelline.

These compounds have been studied, specifically, and the results have proven moderate coffee consumption to be an effective way to reduce an individual’s overall risk of atrial fibrillation, due to the effects of the above components.

2- Longer Lifespan, Reduced Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease Related Death

We mentioned above that coffee was commonly thought to hinder heart health in the past. But, further studies have given greater insight into the specifics regarding coffee consumption and cardiovascular health.

It’s worth repeating that moderate coffee consumption seems to be the sweet spot when it comes to heart health, as the experts have found that high amounts of coffee consumed each day may cause detriments to one’s heart, whereas moderate amounts (2-5 cups daily) have actually been shown to help folks live longer.

That’s right, moderate coffee consumption is linked to a longer lifespan in general.

But, when it comes to heart health, the same amount of coffee consumed daily was found to specifically reduce cardiovascular disease related mortality.

And, these findings have been attributed to coffee’s antioxidant (and other healthy compounds) profile.

3- Lower Risk Of Irregular Heartbeat

Afib is commonly thought to simply be an irregular heartbeat, and in some cases this can be true.

But, with atrial fibrillation, there is an electrical component of this condition, specifically with the top two chambers of the heart experiencing “disorganized electrical activity.”

In the case of irregular heartbeat, this refers to any heart rhythm that is out of order.

And, drinking 2-3 cups of coffee per day has been linked to a reduced risk of developing an irregular heartbeat.

4- Decreased Risk Of Heart Failure

Heart failure occurs when the heart can no longer pump blood as well as your body needs.

Once this happens, your heart can become stiff, blood can back up, and fluid can fill the lungs making it increasingly difficult to breathe, a condition which can be fatal.

Thankfully, drinking 1-2 cups of coffee each day has been shown to reduce the risk of heart failure.

5- Reduced Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease (or heart disease) is the leading cause of death in the US for both men and women.

Every 33 seconds, someone dies from heart disease in the US.

While we already mentioned the decreased risk of death by heart disease associated with moderate coffee consumption, we thought it worthwhile to note coffee’s benefit in regards to a decreased risk of developing this dreadful disease in the first place.

A study published in the European Journal Of Preventive Cardiology detailed the findings of a 12 year study following 450,000 participants.

In this study, researchers evidenced the following:

• Instances of cardiovascular disease were lower among coffee drinkers compared with those who didn’t drink coffee.

• Individuals who consumed 2-3 cups of coffee daily had the lowest risk of cardiovascular disease.

• All roasts and varieties of coffee were found to produce this benefit.

Then, in other studies, scientists have found that coffee is not tied to new or worsening heart disease (in those individuals who already have heart disease and those who have not been diagnosed with the disease).

6- Reduced Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes

If you have diabetes, you are twice as likely to develop heart disease.

Thankfully, coffee aids in this area of health as well.

Some studies suggest that drinking coffee (caffeinated or decaffeinated) reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and this benefit is thought to come from the fact that coffee has been shown to help your body better process sugar.

7- Reduces Blood Pressure Levels

High blood pressure is a big concern when it comes to heart health.

It can narrow and damage the arteries in your heart, cause irregular heart rhythms, and lead to chest pain.

Coffee, when consumed in both moderate and high amounts, was found to lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure, these describing the amount of pressure in your heart when it beats and when it rests in between beats.

Still, even with such findings, we wouldn’t recommend consuming overly high amounts of coffee for optimal heart health. (In other words, we’re focusing more on these findings in relation to consuming moderate amounts of coffee daily.)

8- Improves Exercise, Improves Your Heart

Regular exercise is a key factor in maintaining and obtaining health.

And the experts agree, one of the primary health benefits of exercise is its ability to control or reduce the main risk factors of heart disease.

Regular exercise has been proven to lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of diabetes, aid in maintaining a healthy body weight, and reduce inflammation throughout the body.

And, drinking coffee can improve your exercise sessions!

This is because the caffeine component of coffee increases endurance, helping you workout longer, with greater efforts and results.

While this is primarily true for high intensity exercises or cardiovascular movements, these effects are also being studied for how they can improve strength training as well.

9- Weight Management

Obesity, an unhealthy diet, and inactivity are said to be the leading causes of heart disease.

We’ve already seen how coffee can improve exercise, thereby reducing your risk of heart disease in somewhat of a secondary fashion.

But, coffee can aid in reaching and maintaining a healthy body weight as well, tackling yet another of these three primary heart disease risk factors.

Many studies confirm this, so let’s take a look at a few of them here:

• Studies have shown coffee to aid in weight loss through both appetite suppression and enhanced calorie burning.

• New studies have shown an association between drinking black coffee and weight loss.

• Studies have shown a link between caffeine consumption and both weight and fat reduction.

• Drinking 4 cups of coffee daily has been linked to body fat reductions of 4%.

10- Reduces Oxidative Stress

Oxidative stress is something that occurs when there is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in your body.

Free radicals are produced through normal metabolic processes as well as through some lifestyle factors such as smoking, poor diet, etc.

When this imbalance is excessive, it can lead to disease.

In regards to the heart, oxidative stress can damage the tissues in the heart, leading to myocardial remodeling as well as other structural damage.

But, once again, coffee comes to the rescue as its antioxidant content reduces the damage caused by free radicals and restores needed balance in the body and in organ tissues (such as the heart).

In Closing…

My dad went from drinking coffee that is heavily treated with fertilizers, pesticides, and other health hindering chemicals, coffee which commonly contains molds, mycotoxins, and heavy metals, to drinking coffee that not only tastes better, but is free of each of these harmful substances allowing him to enjoy and fuel his body with all of the natural benefits coffee has to offer his heart and his body as a whole.

Each of the cardiovascular benefits we’ve mentioned today, as well as the wealth of other healthy rewards coffee brings to our bodies, are exactly why we do what we do here at Lifeboost.

And, as we seek to make a difference in this wonderful world of ours, this will always include a desire to see each and every one of you not only enjoying the flavor of Lifeboost coffee, but the vast health benefits of this brew as well.

Check out Lifeboost Coffee Dark Roast.

Medical Disclaimer
This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Dr. Charles Livingston nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.

References:

https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10262944/

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/is-coffee-good-or-bad-for-your-health/

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/drinking-coffee-linked-to-healthier-hearts-and-longer-lives

https://www.acc.org/About-ACC/Press-Releases/2022/03/23/17/55/Good-News-for-Coffee-Lovers-Daily-Coffee-May-Benefit-the-Heart

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