Why That Extra Cup Of Coffee May Be Medicine For Your Heart

The news on coffee and health keeps getting better and better. The latest comes from a study in the journal Heart which says people who drink a lot of java appear to be at lower risk of clogged heart arteries than non-coffee drinkers.

The study looked at more than 25,000 people -- average age 41 -- with no symptoms of heart disease. All had calcium scans done on their hearts. That "calcium score" is a fairly reliable indicator of whether the heart arteries have plaque or blockages building up.

In the study, those who drank three to five regular sized cups of coffee per day were found to have fewer signs of blockages than those who drank no coffee.

Although researchers could not find a direct link from the coffee cup to the coronary arteries, the study was a good one because it took into account risk factors such as weight, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, level of exercise, smoking, etc. That means the coffee was the only difference between those with plague buildup and those with little or none.

Now this isn't to say that we doctors are now recommending five cups of coffee a day as a preventative against heart disease. No. But the study makes sense since we know that coffee contains a lot of heart healthy antioxidants and other chemicals that do a body good.

And it's not just the heart that gets happy with an extra cup.

Other studies have found that coffee may lower your risk of diabetes, Parkinson's, stroke, malignant melanoma, liver disease, and a host of other maladies.

Now you may wonder if all of these people drank regular coffee or "unleaded." The study didn't not look at whether you should be drinking the caffeinated stuff to get the health benefits. But obviously, for some folks, drink too much of the real deal and a case of the jitters or an upset stomach soon follows. So I can't tell you the answer on that one.

Last but not least, don't forget the add-ons. Or actually -- forget the add-ons. Dump in a lot of sweeteners, cream, sugar, or powdered creamer, and you've just canceled out the health effects of that nice hot cup of Joe.

So go ahead. Enjoy that extra cup. It may make you bright eyed and bushy tailed -- with a heart that ticks away like a Swiss clock.

Dr. Dave Hnida is CBS4's Medical Editor. He blogs about the latest studies and trends in the health world. Read his latest blog entries, check out his bio or follow him on Twitter @drdavehnida