Coffee Made in Workplace Machines Is Worse for Your Cardiovascular Health Than Home-Brewing Methods, Research Shows
A new study — published in the scientific journal Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases — analyzed samples from 14 coffee machines in four different workplaces in Sweden to determine whether office coffee raises cholesterol compared to brewing coffee at home.
'Intake of insufficiently filtered coffee during working hours could be an overlooked factor for cardiovascular health due to its effect on plasma cholesterol concentrations,' researchers concluded.
This means coffee from your office machines might contain more cholesterol-raising compounds, similar to the samples in this study.
'Based on the concentrations of cafestol and kahweol in investigated machine coffees, thoroughly filtered coffee seems like the preferable choice for cardiovascular health,' researchers continued. 'Accordingly, filtered coffee should be preferred, also in workplace settings.'
Related: Man Says His Sister Is 'Quite Upset' at Him for Drinking Coffee in Front of Her Young Son Who 'Likes to Copy Me'
Researchers studied samples from three types of office machines: brewing machines, liquid-model machines and instant machines.
'Brewing machines produce coffee from whole or ground beans in approximately [10 to 30 seconds], as the hot water mixes with the coffee and passes a metal filter,' the study noted. 'Liquid-models can provide a cup within seconds and do not use a filter, but instead mix a liquid coffee concentrate with hot water. Instant machines mixes use instant, freeze-dried coffee with hot water.'
Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The researchers compared those workplace methods to other commonly used methods to brew and paper-filter coffee at home: drip-brewed coffee, percolator, French press/cafetière and boiled coffee.
Comparing the machines to these more thoroughly filtered methods, the researchers recommended that 'replacing three cups of brewing machine coffee with paper-filtered coffee five days per week was estimated to reduce LDL cholesterol' (a.k.a. bad cholesterol) over time.
Related: Majority of U.S. Teens Are Not Drinking, Smoking or Using Marijuana, Study Finds
Other studies have touted the benefits of coffee — in moderation — to cardiovascular, cognitive, metabolic and neurological health.
Dr. Donald Hensrud wrote for the Mayo Clinic that 'drinking coffee may be linked to a lower risk of: Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease among some groups of people; metabolic syndrome and chronic kidney disease; liver cancer and liver disease, including cirrhosis; and gallstones and kidney stones.'
Read the original article on People
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
4 hours ago
- CBS News
Protein-packed snacks gain mainstream appeal, experts say
Once the domain of bodybuilders and athletes, protein has moved to the center of many Americans' daily diets, showing up in everything from cereal to doughnuts, according to nutrition experts. For Yisel Soler, a South Florida fitness enthusiast, protein isn't just a box to check — it's central to her routine. "Make sure you have the protein and adequate amount of protein every day, every morning throughout the day," Soler said. She is part of a growing trend. A recent survey by Cargill found that 61% of Americans are actively prioritizing protein in their food choices. Food companies are responding with a flood of protein-enriched snacks like chips, popcorn and cereal. "The protein market exploded," said Monica Auslander Moreno, a registered dietitian and founder of Essence Nutrition in Miami. Moreno said most healthy adults should aim for about 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily, or roughly 61 grams for the average American woman. However, she believes that amount may be too low, especially with new recommendations for strength training, which suggest at least two to three times per week. She also stresses quality over quantity. "I'm reading that this ice cream or these crackers or this cereal has 8 g of protein. Are you absorbing that protein? Is it high-quality protein? And is it actually delivering the benefits which you would expect from this high protein food, meaning, 'Oh, I'm going to have more strength and more muscle growth?'" Moreno said. To measure that quality, she uses the Protein Digestibility-Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS), a scientific scale that ranks how well the body absorbs and uses protein. "The highest is a 1.0. The highest is actually an egg," she added. Moreno advises sticking to whole food sources when possible — a view shared by personal trainer and former bodybuilder Saul Rivera. "The steak, the chicken, the beef, if it's in the morning, eggs, egg whites," Rivera said. Rivera said protein snacks can be a good choice in moderation. "The chips, the protein bars, and there's nothing wrong with that. That's a great alternative to eating a Snickers bar or regular chips, you know? But I firmly believe that in terms of diet, when it comes to protein, you wanna go to the natural sources, right?" he said. He warned against replacing full meals with snacks. "I think people confuse it, because their goal is to lose weight and to look a certain way. They're thinking that by eating less or eating these snacks and then not eating these full meals, that's going to get them to their goal. And it doesn't work that way, you know you gotta build a good diet plan," Rivera said. Soler said she tries to balance her protein intake with her long-term health in mind. "Hopefully you know, in that process, like living longer. But not just living longer but living healthy," she said.
Tom's Guide
5 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
What is central sleep apnea and how can you tell if you have it?
Central sleep apnea (CSA) is a sleep disorder that is less common than obstructive sleep apnea, but it does have some similarities. In the US, CSA is estimated to affect less than 1% of adults over 40. It's a sleep disorder that is caused by a brief lack of communication between your brain and the muscles that control your breathing. CSA is also associated with underlying health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, stroke and primary brain disorders. As with obstructive sleep apnea, it's important to get a diagnosis if you suspect you might have the condition. Undiagnosed CSA can lead to impaired quality of life, and it can also affect your cardiovascular health. We've spoken with a sleep scientist and a sleep medicine and pulmonary medicine specialist to find out more about this less common form of sleep apnea. 'CSA is a sleep disorder in which the brain fails to signal the muscles of respiration, primarily the diaphragm, to make an effort to take a breath,' explains Dr Peter G Polos, a sleep medicine and pulmonary medicine specialist at JFK University Medical Center in New Jersey. 'This can stop breathing for a period during the night, and it then spontaneously resumes normal breathing until the next cycle," he adds. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. "This can occur many times an hour during sleep.' Central sleep apnea can affect people of all ages, but it's more common in older adults, and those with certain health conditions. Some lifestyle factors can also increase your risk of developing CSA. The most common risk factors include: Dr Carleara Weiss, a sleep scientist and sleep science advisor at Aeroflow Sleep, explains that the main risk factor involves having an underlying medical condition, as this can impact the brain's ability to regulate breathing signals to the respiratory muscles. 'These conditions include cardiovascular diseases," she explains. This can include "stroke and congestive heart failure, chronic use of narcotic medication or substance abuse that suppresses the central nervous system, and neuromuscular diseases such as Parkinson's disease, myasthenia gravis (a chronic autoimmune condition), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).' But that's not an exhaustive list. Other conditions, like hypothyroidism and kidney failure can also increase the risk of developing central sleep apnea. 'The most common symptom is pauses of breathing during sleep that are most commonly noted by a bed partner,' says Dr Polos. 'Others include spontaneous awakenings due to shortness of breath, excessive daytime sleepiness, morning headaches and concentration difficulties.' The most common symptom is pauses of breathing during sleep Dr Weiss adds that people may also wake during the night gasping for air. 'Other symptoms include mood swings, anxiety, depression, sexual dysfunction, and frequent nighttime awakenings,' she says. Cheynes-Stokes breathing can be another symptom of central sleep apnea. It's a cyclical breathing pattern that is characterised by periods of increase and decrease in breathing depth and periods of apnea (where there is a momentary pause in breathing). 'This pattern of breathing is often seen in people who have heart failure and other conditions that can affect the brain's ability to regulate breathing,' Dr Weiss adds. If you have any concerns that you may have signs of this sleep disorder, seeking a diagnosis is a priority. 'The first step is to see a sleep physician who will take a detailed history, review medication and carry out a physical examination,' explains Dr Polos. 'In the end, an overnight sleep study is often the next step to secure the diagnosis.' 'It is important to make this diagnosis because the consequences such as lower oxygen during sleep, can produce strain on the heart and lead to cardiac complications,' he adds. 'Untreated CSA is associated with fatigue and driving risk, concentration decline, and poor quality of life.' Additionally, others could notice changes in your sleep and your health before you realise you have any symptoms. 'If you or your partner have any questions or concerns about the quality or quantity of your sleep, and if those around you observe changes in your mood, energy, performance or concentration, seek advice from your primary care physician or a sleep specialist,' Dr Polos advises. Central sleep apnea treatments can help to improve the quality and quantity of your sleep and improve daytime symptoms. Here are some of the ways CSA can be treated. If you have mild symptoms of CSA, lifestyle changes might be all you need to do in terms of treatment. These include trying to lose weight if you are overweight, keeping active and exercising regularly, and practising good sleep hygiene. For example, making sure your bedroom is dark and quiet and going to bed and waking up at the same time each day. You may find sleeping on your side is helpful too. Making lifestyle changes along with taking prescribed medication may be enough to treat mild to moderate central sleep apnea. 'The first step should be to address any underlying medical conditions,' explains Dr Polos. 'For example, if the patient has heart failure, this needs to be medically managed, which by itself may correct the CSA. 'In addition, reducing or discontinuing any drug that may contribute to CSA must also be considered,' he adds. Treatments that can help to regulate abnormal breathing patterns such as PAP therapy are usually considered after lifestyle changes and medication have been tried, but symptoms of CSA continue. 'The primary mode of treatment is positive airway pressure,' says Dr Polos. 'The modalities can include bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) or adaptive servo-ventilation (AS)." "These are specialised methods of delivering positive pressure to the airways in CSA.' To treat CSA, traditional continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is often used, Dr Weiss explains. 'This provides the same pressure during breathing or a BiPAP can provide different pressure levels during inhalation and exhalation. 'Some patients may also qualify for surgery or phrenic nerve stimulation,' she adds, 'and in other cases, a combined therapy of PAP therapy plus medication may be recommended.'
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
The Underrated Ingredient That Could Help You Lose Weight, According to Dietitians
Reviewed by Dietitian Karen Ansel, M.S., RDNKey Points Dietitians say beans are the most underrated ingredient for weight loss. Beans are packed with protein and fiber to keep you full and satisfied. They also help with weight loss by supporting gut health and managing blood one has to tell you that weight loss can feel challenging for so many reasons. Between the latest fad diets and social media messages insisting that special powder will melt off the pounds, it's hard to know what really works and what's just clever marketing. While we wish there were a magic solution, dietitians agree that one of the best things you can do is to choose foods that have actually been shown to help with weight loss. Like beans. 'Beans are the unsung heroes of weight management,' says Drew Hemler, RD, CDN. 'They're inexpensive, versatile and loaded with a trio of fiber, protein and slow-digesting carbs that keep you full longer while curbing cravings.' Read on to find out why beans are our MVP ingredient for weight loss, plus quick, tasty ways to add them to your favorite meals and snacks. How Beans May Help with Weight Loss They're Low in Calories, Yet Big on Volume 'Beans are relatively low in calories but high in volume, thanks to their fiber and water content,' says Hemler. 'That means you can eat a satisfying portion that fills you up without overloading on calories, which is an ideal combo for anyone trying to lose or manage weight.' For instance, 1 cup of canned black beans contains just 220 calories. At the same time, they're 75% water, which pumps up their volume. Even though beans are low in calories, they pack a slew of vitamins and minerals, making them nutritional superstars. Lauren Harris-Pincus, M.S., RDN, points out that beans, like black, kidney, white, garbanzo and pinto beans, also provide potassium, a nutrient that we need for healthy blood pressure, yet most of us fall short of. So, in addition to helping with weight loss, they also fill in an important nutrition gap. They're Packed with Protein and Fiber Beans contain a dynamic weight-loss duo of protein and fiber. 'The protein, slowly digestible starches and soluble fiber in beans help slow gastric emptying and regulate blood sugar, and as a result, reduce hunger-driven cravings,' says Hemler. And when you feel full, you're a lot less likely to mindlessly munch, which may help you eat fewer calories. Their combo of protein and fiber is so powerful that one study found that people who ate roughly 1 cup of beans per day had a lower body mass index and body weight and smaller waist size compared to people who didn't usually eat beans. While all beans differ slightly, 1 cup of canned black beans gives you a whopping 17 grams of fiber and 15 grams of protein. They May Enhance Gut Health A healthy gut microbiome doesn't just keep your digestive system running smoothly. It's also a key player in long-term weight management, helping manage appetite and blood sugar. Regularly eating beans helps keep your gut bacteria in tip-top shape, which may translate to easier weight loss, says Harris-Pincus. That's because beans are rich in a hard-to-digest carbohydrate called resistant starch. After you eat, say, a bowl of bean chili, the resistant starch from the beans travels to your gut. When it gets there, your gut good bacteria gobble it up for food. As they do this, they produce helpful compounds, called short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), linked to lower body weight, a reduced risk of obesity and lower blood sugar. They May Promote Healthier Blood Sugar Nearly one-third of U.S. adults are living with prediabetes. That doesn't just increase the risk of diabetes, it's also a sneaky cause of weight gain. Prediabetes often begins with a silent condition called insulin resistance, which can disrupt your ability to maintain a healthy weight. Trouble is, health care providers don't usually test for insulin resistance. So, many of us have it without even knowing it. Eating beans might just help protect against insulin resistance and the weight gain that comes along with it. 'The plant-based protein and fiber in beans can aid in blood sugar control as well as increasing satiety to help people lose or maintain weight,' says Harris-Pincus. 'Beans also contain antioxidants, which clinical studies have shown may reduce insulin resistance, aiding weight management.' In addition to protein and fiber, beans contain antioxidant-rich substances called saponins, which have been shown to lower blood sugar and protect against insulin resistance. Tips to Use Beans Beans are incredibly versatile, working well in both sweet and savory dishes. And using canned beans can help you make mealtime magic happen in no time. To add more beans to your favorite dishes, try these dietitian-approved tips. Blend them into dips: Swap in blended white beans for mayo or sour cream in creamy dips and spreads, like our five-star Loaded Black Bean Dip. It's a delicious way to add more protein and fiber to your day! Use them to bulk up meals: Stir cannellini beans into a White Bean Soup with Pasta or some Tuscan White Bean Soup. Toss mixed beans into a steaming pot of Three-Bean Chili, or tuck black beans into tacos or Butternut Squash & Black Bean Enchiladas. You can even use beans to pump up the volume and protein in scrambled eggs and quiche! Roast a bean-based snack: Roasted chickpeas are a wonderful canvas for sweet, salty and spicy snacks. If spicy is your thing, give these Spice-Roasted Chickpeas a try. Or, for a healthy way to satisfy your sweet tooth, roast a batch of Cinnamon-Sugar Roasted Chickpeas (toss them in your next yogurt parfait for a sweet and crunchy fiber punch!). Puree them into sweet treats: Fold pureed chickpeas into a no-bake cookie dough or whip red lentils into a Chocolate-Banana Protein Smoothie. Upgrade your toast: Mash your favorite beans with spices, a little lemon juice and olive oil to top your avocado toast. Or, for a new spin on ricotta toast, try our protein-packed Cannellini Bean & Herbed Ricotta Toast. Our Expert Take Nutrition experts unanimously agree that weight loss doesn't happen overnight. It's really about the small, sustainable changes that can add up over time. Like adding beans to your day. 'Including beans, lentils and chickpeas regularly in the diet is associated with numerous health benefits, including healthy weight maintenance, gut health and risk reduction for several chronic diseases,' says Harris-Pincus. Beans are big in volume, yet low in calories and are loaded with filling fiber and protein. They may also support weight loss by keeping your gut bacteria happy and healthy and improving your body's ability to use insulin. 'Beans aren't just good for your waistline; they're great for your wallet, gut and the planet, too,' says Hemler. 'Whether you're going meatless or just adding more plants, beans bring big benefits in a small, humble package.' Plus, they're incredibly versatile. Whether you like them in dips, tacos, chili, soup, enchiladas or even smoothies or dessert, there are loads of good reasons to pop open a can! Read the original article on EATINGWELL
