Coffee May Be Bad for Cholesterol

Many, many studies over the years have found that coffee might help your health. However, what is right for one area of health, might not be for another. While coffee has been linked to many positive aspects of aging, it might play a negative role in cholesterol levels. If you love coffee, you probably want to know more about it and its properties. Before panicking, know that there are ways to protect yourself against the potentially harmful aspects of your favorite drink.

Coffee does not contain cholesterol. However, it does impact your body’s production of cholesterol. This is important as only 25 percent of cholesterol comes from diet, the rest from the liver. An oil found in coffee — caffeinated and decaf — called cafestol can impact the way the body metabolizes and regulates cholesterol. This can lead to higher LDL cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol) and higher overall levels. Cafestol alters gene expression in the liver in three separate genes.

The good news is, there are ways to mitigate your risks. The way in which you brew your morning joe can make a big difference. French press and Turkish coffee leave all the cafestol in the drink. Drip coffee is mostly free of the oil as the coffee filter removes it. And, it is important to note that, as of yet, no study has linked coffee to heart disease directly.

Because of its ability to filter cafestol from the cup, researchers believe that drip coffee is fine while other coffees may pose problems. As of yet, little research has been performed into how much of an impact cafestol has on overall health. Until there has been more research, you may wish to limit your coffee intake, especially if you drink multiple cups a day. Speak to your doctor if you are concerned.