Raise your hand if you are part of the list of people who can't start the day without a cup of coffee! For many of us it is an absolute must when it comes to our morning routine. It is true that coffee increases energy and vigilance, as we "procrastinate" in the commitments of the day or even during the progress of tasks from work, at home, etc.
Drinking one to two cups of coffee a day leads to a lower risk of heart disease, a Johns Hopkins Medicine study finds. But, according to cardiologists, there is only one ingredient you can add to your cup of coffee if you want to "invest" in the good health of your heart: cocoa!
Here are three reasons why your heart will thank you for starting the day with coffee and cocoa!
#1 Coffee drinkers live longer
Drinking coffee seems like you get superpowers once the caffeine hits your body, but there's even more evidence of benefits that go beyond that. A January 2022 study in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology reveals that people who drink up to three cups of coffee a day reduce their risk of dying from heart disease or stroke.
#2 Lower risk of cardiovascular disease
Researchers have found a 15% reduction in the risk of heart disease when a person consumed a moderate amount of coffee (between three and five cups a day) compared to someone who did not drink coffee at all. This is also linked to a reduced risk of strokes, according to a PLOS Medicine study.
#3 Cocoa reduces inflammation
Coffee brings its own heart-healthy benefits, but adding cocoa can accentuate them even more. Like coffee beans, cocoa powder contains flavanols, which have anti-inflammatory effects, relax blood vessels and improve blood sugar control.
But remember: cocoa and chocolate are not the same thing. Cocoa powder has less saturated fat and added sugar (as long as it's not sweetened), while chocolate has a different composition.
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Source: Well+ Good
