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Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., and is heavily impacted by what we eat and drink.

Heart disease has the unfortunate distinction of being the leading cause of death in both men and women in the United States. The condition envelops a variety of diseases that range from strokes to high blood pressure. But factoring in this particular drink into your lifestyle can reduce your odds of having a stroke, at least according to a new study.

The study from the European Society of Cardiology found that drinking up to three cups of coffee a day can lower your risk of having a stroke. The study’s authors wanted to analyze the link between coffee intake and cases of heart attacks, strokes, and more, following 468,629 participants and their coffee drinking habits for a period of 11 years. It’s one of the largest studies conducted on the effect of coffee and heart health.

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Researchers adjusted for factors like gender, weight, age, and more, and divided subjects into three groups: people who never drank coffee, people who drank one-half to three cups of coffee a day, and people who drank more than three cups a day.

Results showed that moderate coffee drinkers were better off than the rest. They had 17 percent lower risk of death from heart disease and 21 percent less risk of having a stroke when compared to non-coffee drinkers. “Our findings suggest that coffee consumption of up to three cups per day is associated with favorable cardiovascular outcomes,” said Judit Simon, one of the study’s authors.

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This study isn’t the first to find a connection between heart health and coffee consumption. Despite coffee being associated with symptoms like sleeplessness and heart palpitations, there’s no clear evidence that suggests coffee is bad for you. New studies show that moderate consumption of coffee can be positive for your heart health, especially when paired with a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Coffee has long been associated with health benefits such as reducing the odds of developing cancer, reducing risks of liver disease, and more. The key has always been moderation since we know that high percentages of caffeine will interrupt your sleep and promote discomfort, at least short term.

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