Some of the best coffee projects we know of got their start on Kickstarter. From...
High cholesterol is responsible for many illnesses, not the least of which is a heightened risk of stroke. A 2008 study published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation suggests that caffeine equivalent to 6-7 cups of coffee a day just might protect the brain from the damages caused by cholesterol.
High cholesterol levels increase the risk of stroke in a number of ways. Cholesterol increases the risk of heart disease, which is a risk factor for strokes. More directly, cholesterol deposits can narrow the carotid artery which carries blood to the brain, reducing the amount of oxygen and nutrients that your brain cells need. A third way that cholesterol can increase the risk of stroke is with deposits of plaque and cholesterol in the tiny capillaries of the brain itself.
The brain is protected from much of the damage it might otherwise take by the blood brain barrier, a sort of protective “net” that filters substances from the blood before they reach the brain. It was once believed that the blood brain barrier (BBB) was extremely efficient, but more recent research shows that the BBB is a rather leaky barrier that can be affected by many things. Cholesterol is one of those things that researchers believe damages the blood brain barrier, leaving it with holes through which plaque and other harmful substances can permeate the brain.
Researchers at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine decided to test a theory that caffeine might help protect the BBB from the damages caused by high cholesterol. Their subjects were a strain of New Zealand rabbits that are often used in medical research. The group of rabbits in the study were all fed a cholesterol-enriched diet. Half the group drank regular water. The other half of the group drank water that was laced with about the same amount of caffeine proportionally as is found in a cup of coffee – essentially, replacing their water intake with coffee.
At the end of the twelve week study, the researchers found that the rabbits who had been drinking caffeinated water showed significantly less BBB leakage than those who had been drinking plain water. Based on this, the researchers suggest that caffeine might have a place in treatments for cholesterol reduction, stroke management and Alzheimer’s disease treatment.
This research also lends credence to several recent studies that suggest those who drink coffee regularly throughout their lives are less likely to suffer from either stroke or Alzheimer’s disease. If the UND researchers are right, they may have discovered why coffee reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and stroke.
Some posts on our site may contain amazon affiliate links. We may earn affiliate commission from amazon when you purchase through those links.
1776jedi says
It takes far more than 6-7 cups per day of UNFILTERED coffee to significantly raise you cholesterol levels, If one part of the coffee protects your brain, another protects your heart, and a third raises your cholesterol, then the balance is still on the healthy side. It’s not an up or down yes or no issue unless you drink ten gallons of coffee a day.
Stephen Guy-Clarke says
An excellent article on the potential benefits of Coffee and here is another positive report on health and Coffee from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition which seems to contradict numerous studies that have suggested that coffee is bad for you.
Based on a study of 27,000 older women followed for 15 years, it found risk of cardiovascular disease reduced by about 30 per cent in women who had a moderate intake of coffee. The analysis, part of the Iowa Women’s Health Study, found that up to 60 per cent of antioxidants in the diet may come from coffee.
Active parts of coffee include caffeine and polyphenols.
Erica says
What about the cafestrol in coffee? Doesn’t that make cholesterol worse? One of the leading contributers to high cholesterol?? Get the caffeine you need from tea or, even better, chocolate!