Massive coffee-drinking myth busted by Melbourne researchers

One of the biggest myths about drinking coffee has been busted by Melbourne researchers who have discovered a surprising fact.

New research has found regularly drinking coffee has numerous benefits for a person’s health and can help them live longer. Picture: Supplied

Enjoying a morning cup of coffee could lead to a longer and healthier life, according to new research from Melbourne cardiologists.

A study from the Alfred Hospital and Baker Heart Institute, which examined over 380,000 people and spanned more than 10 years, found regularly drinking coffee was associated with living longer and having a lower risk of heart disease and dangerous heart rhythms.

Australians now have a good reason to make drinking coffee a regular fixture of their day. Picture: Geoff Potter / Noosa News

Even when adjusting for physical activity and other lifestyle factors, regular coffee drinkers still had better health outcomes.

No cardiovascular benefits were found in choosing decaf over caffeinated coffees.

Head of electrophysiology at the Alfred Hospital, Professor Peter Kistler, told 3AW on Friday drinking coffee is “definitely a good thing”.

“What we found was that regular coffee drinkers, particularly around two to three cups a day, had an overall improvement in survival and a reduction in heart disease,” Prof. Kistler said.

The study found people who drink two to three cups of coffee a day experience numerous health benefits. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Paul Jeffers

This also included heart rhythm problems, which are commonly thought to be triggered by drinking coffee.

“We looked at a survey; about 80 per cent of doctors tell people with AFib (atrial fibrillation) to stop drinking coffee, and there just isn’t medical evidence to support that,” he said.

“Absolutely if you notice that when you have a coffee you feel your heart jittering, then coffee is not for you, but as a blanket rule, people with AFib should not be told to stop drinking coffee.”

He said there are similar benefits for people who have prevalent heart diseases.

New research has found drinking coffee actually helps with heart disease and atrial fibrillation issues. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

On why regularly drinking coffee can be so good for people, Prof. Kistler said the average cup is filled with many benefits.

“Coffee has up to 100 biologically active compounds; it’s not just caffeine. Some of them have anti-inflammatory effects, antioxidant effects; they improve your metabolic rate a little bit, reduce fat absorption.”

There does seem to be a limit to coffee’s power though, with the study finding no additional benefits beyond five cups a day.

The research is being presented at the American College of Cardiology next month.