By Susan Williams
Susan Williams, MEd, RH(AHG)Wanna Cuppa Better Health? It’s cheap and easy!
An article published by the American Heart Association concludes that for most adults, consuming up to 400 mg of caffeine per day, or about 3–5 eight-ounce cups of black coffee, is generally safe and may even reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, heart failure, Type 2 diabetes, and some abnormal heart rhythms.
However, high-caffeine energy drinks and energy shots may increase the risk of high blood pressure and dangerous heart rhythm problems.
The authors note that people respond differently to caffeine based on genetics, age, medications, and health conditions — so individual tolerance varies.
Before you go belly up to the coffee bar, check out this new research in the AHA Newsroom article, “Coffee and heart health: How many cups of caffeinated coffee are safe to drink each day?” or its source from the journal Circulation: “Caffeine and Cardiovascular Disease: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association” (both published July 20, 2026).
More research is needed to fully understand how different caffeine sources affect cardiovascular health.
Susan Williams, MEd, RH (AHG), is a certified holistic nutritionist, yoga instructor, Duke trained National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, and enthusiastic student of health for older citizens.
Disclaimer: Self Care posts are shared for information purposes only, and are never intended as individual medical advice nor as a substitute for healthcare services.