Coffee Can Reduce Risk Of Stroke In Women: Study

Seattle - According to researchers in Spain, women who drink at least two cups of coffee a day can lower their risk of a stroke.

Researchers surveyed more than 200 women between the ages of 50 and 73. Most of the participants were white with high income and well-educated. None of the women were at risk of heart attack or stroke prior to the study.

According to the 24-year-long study, the risk of stroke is 20 percent less in women drinking four or more cups a day, 19 percent less in women drinking two to three cups a day and 12 percent less in women drinking coffee five to seven times a week.

“Many people have been very concerned that coffee might actually be a risk factor for stroke, that it might, in fact, increase the risk of stroke,” said the study’s co-author, Rob M. van Dam, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health, in Boston. “But here we saw that it might end up being beneficial rather than detrimental.”

However, researchers found that the benefit is only for non-smokers.  Women who do not smoke will see a 43 percent reduction in stroke risk.  Smokers have just a 3 percent reduction.

“The potential benefits of coffee cannot counterbalance the detrimental effects smoking has on health,” Esther Lopez-Garcia, lead author of the study says in a news release.

In addition to smoking, having high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol also neutralized the coffee effect, reports WebMD.

Experts think antioxidants found in coffee are key.

Researchers say that coffee alone is not enough, women still need to improve lifestyle habits including diet and exercise.

The study was published February 16 issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.