Can strong coffee raise your blood pressure?
There is no arguing that your cup of coffee gives you an instant caffeine boost. Whether it’s your morning wake up or an afternoon boost, the caffeine has a noticeable effect on how you feel. Whilst this, along with the great, enjoyable tastes of your favourite brew are one of the many benefits of coffee, it can also increase your blood pressure, which is something to keep an eye on if you suffer from particularly high blood pressure as standard.
Whilst the debate around coffee and blood pressure increase continues, we wanted to present the facts, on what we know now. Whilst we have researched the exact effects of caffeine on your body here, the studies around the connection between blood pressure and caffeine are particularly far and wide. Here’s the latest information, so you can keep this in mind as you schedule your next coffee break.
It’s a fact coffee raises blood pressure in the short term
The FDA recommends that adults don’t drink more than 400 milligrams of caffeine a day (to put that into perspective, the average cup of coffee contains 49 to 280 milligrams of caffeine, depending on the preparation method, whereas a can of caffeinated soft drink contains 30-40 milligrams). This means around 2 cups per day max, but always check the strength of your coffee.
Caffeine will naturally raise your blood pressure, getting it pumping around your body and stimulating your organs. But, as every coffee drinker knows, this is a short term effect and should not offer a boost for the long term. The caffeine buzz we all feel usually stays in your body for three to four hours max, again depending on the strength of the coffee beans.
Are there any long-term effects on blood pressure?
Since coffee is a beverage that people drink on a daily basis and it does raise your blood pressure in the short term, the question of if there are any long-term effects of drinking coffee often raised, however the science and research into this is very limited. g. Some evidence suggests that drinking coffee regularly does not have a long-term impact on your blood pressure, nor does it appear to increase your risk of cardiovascular health problems, however each individual is unique, and you really have to judge how you personally feel with this.
Other evidence suggests negative reactions to caffeine like caffeine withdrawal, rapid heartbeat, anxiety, or jitteriness, which many of us have experienced if we have overdone the coffees and then cut them for a few days.
If you’re considering drinking coffee every day, it’s important to do so in moderation, and figure out what works the best for you, your body and your lifestyle. Speak to your doctor and/or dietician to ensure the caffeine isn’t promoting a high blood pressure for you day to day.
Bonus tip: To ensure you are consuming your morning coffee in a healthy way is to never drink on an empty stomach, a banana or porridge is the perfect morning accompaniment. Plus it helps the caffeine digestion process, allowing you to feel the benefits quicker.
