Moderate coffee, tea consumption can be part of healthy lifestyle for most

Caffeinated coffee does not appear to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancers, according to Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health researchers who reviewed a large body of evidence. They found that consumption of three to five standard cups of daily coffee may in fact reduce the risk of several chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers.

High caffeine intake, however, can have some adverse effects, including lower birth weight and higher risk of pregnancy loss, the authors wrote. High consumption of caffeinated energy drinks, especially when mixed with alcohol, may increase risk of adverse cardiovascular, psychological, and neurological effects.

The findings were reported in an article by Rob van Dam, adjunct professor of nutrition and epidemiology, Frank Hu, Fredrick J. Stare Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology and chair, Department of Nutrition, and Walter Willett, professor of epidemiology and nutrition, which looked at 95 previous studies of caffeine and caffeinated beverages. It was published July 23, 2020 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The authors wrote, “Current evidence does not warrant recommending caffeine or coffee intake for disease prevention but suggests that for adults who are not pregnant or lactating and do not have specific health conditions, moderate consumption of coffee or tea can be part of a healthy lifestyle.”

Read the New England Journal of Medicine article: Coffee, Caffeine, and Health