Eating For Health

Last week, I blogged about coffee and its relationship with cholesterol and heart health. Some readers asked great follow-up questions: What about instant coffee, decaf coffee, and mushroom coffee? Let’s break down what the research says. ☕ Coffee and Cholesterol Basics Coffee itself contains no cholesterol , but it does have two natural oils — cafestol and kahweol — known as diterpenes . These compounds can raise LDL (the “bad” cholesterol). Using paper filters to brew coffee removes 80–90% of cafestol and kahweol. In contrast, unfiltered coffee can raise LDL cholesterol by up to 8% in just four weeks .   (See: Coffee, Cholesterol, and Your Heart: The Facts That Matter ) ☕ Instant Coffee and Cholesterol Instant coffee isn’t brewed through a filter — you simply add hot water to the granules. So, does it affect cholesterol levels? Instant coffee is considered a low-cafestol option , similar to filtered coffee, and is generally safe for cholesterol-cons...

Coffee is one of America’s favorite daily rituals — and it comes with real health benefits. But how does it affect cholesterol and heart health? Let’s break down what the science actually says. 🌟 The Health Benefits of 1–4 Cups of Coffee a Day Moderate coffee consumption — up to 4 cups a day — is consistently linked with better long‑term health outcomes. Research shows that regular coffee drinkers may experience: Lower overall mortality Reduced risk of stroke and heart disease Lower risk of respiratory diseases Slower cognitive decline Reduced risk of certain cancers Lower risk of type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and colon cancer Filtered coffee , in particular, is associated with a 12–20% lower risk of cardiovascular death compared to non‑coffee drinkers. (See: Is Coffee Good for Your Health? ) ☕ What Happens If You Drink More Than 4 Cups? More than four cups a day may start tipping the balance. While coffee itself contains no cholesterol , it d...

Almost everyone has heard of cholesterol.   Not everyone has heard that you have both “good” cholesterol and “bad” cholesterol.   For good health the goal is to raise the “good” cholesterol.   And yes, you do want the “good” cholesterol to be higher.   The other goal is to lower or keep within normal range the “bad” cholesterol.   What is cholesterol?   The Mayo Clinic defines cholesterol as “a waxy substance found in your blood”.   Believe it or not but your body not only needs cholesterol for healthy cells, your body also produces cholesterol.   Adults make about 1,000 mg of cholesterol a day and we get about 200-300 mg of cholesterol a day from food.   Our bodies need cholesterol for many functions in the body including being a precursor for vitamin D, a layer covering our nerve cells, to transport molecules around our body, and for each cell.   What about cholesterol and heart disease?   Our bodies use the cholesterol ...