Coffee and Inflammation: Is There a Connection?

Coffee contains more than 1,000 bioactive components that are responsible for its anti-inflammatory properties.

The beverage is a particularly good source of polyphenols, which are substances with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant characteristics. Coffee's polyphenols, such as chlorogenic acid, diterpenes, and trigonelline, prevent free radicals from inflicting damage that could lead to inflammation. Some of these polyphenols also prevent the production of inflammatory compounds by inhibiting specific gene expression and the activity of certain enzymes.

• Research indicates that drinking coffee regularly may reduce one or more inflammatory parameters in the blood. A review and meta-analysis published in 2020 in Nutrients found that, overall, coffee did not have a direct discernible effect on C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in the blood (an inflammatory protein). Nevertheless, a few sizable studies have reported that coffee is associated with lower levels of the inflammatory marker CRP (as coffee consumption increases, CRP levels decrease). According to the authors, more research is necessary because of this contradictory evidence. These outcomes might be influenced by additional variables including smoking and body mass index.
• Researchers from the Iowa Women's Health Study discovered in 2006 that postmenopausal women who drank coffee had a lower risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other inflammatory disorders. According to experts, coffee is a significant source of antioxidants that lower inflammation in the body.
• According to a 2010 study by Kerstin Kempf of Heinrich Heine University in Germany, which is published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, drinking coffee decreased inflammation and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, which support cardiovascular health. This scientific research demonstrates that including coffee in your diet can be a beneficial anti-inflammatory strategy.
• One clinical study that examined a substantial amount of data reported that these polyphenols could specifically assist several inflammatory markers, including cytokines, chemokines, and basic fibroblast growth factors. Furthermore, the effect is pronounced by more coffee consumption.
• Chlorogenic acid is one of the main polyphenols found in coffee. This astringent substance not only contributes significantly to the flavor of your coffee but also has a major beneficial effect on inflammatory pathways. In a study published in the European Journal of Nutrition, researchers noted that coffee's chlorogenic acid not only has anti-inflammatory characteristics but also promotes metabolic and cardiovascular health.

According to studies, decaf coffee may have advantages similar to those of normal coffee. 

Results from a few research studies suggest that drinking decaffeinated coffee as opposed to caffeinated may result in a small reduction in inflammatory markers. However, it is generally agreed that caffeine does not contribute much to the anti-inflammatory effects associated with coffee drinking.

Other coffee polyphenols, which can be found in both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, are the real culprits.

Many of us turn to coffee because of the stimulating effects of caffeine, but as many have learned, too much caffeine can result in jitters and a racing heart. This raises the question of whether drinking too much coffee could eventually cause an inflammatory reaction. 

Despite the lack of research, studies that reported a link between coffee and reduced inflammatory markers included data from a range of coffee consumptions. Subjects who drank more caffeinated coffee (between three and seven cups) appeared to have advantages similar to those who drank less. That doesn't imply that you ought to drink that much coffee with caffeine. 

The U.S. FDA states that 400 mg of caffeine per day, which is equivalent to four or five cups of coffee, is generally safe (note that this refers to eight-ounce cups; many mugs and takeout cups are larger). Pay attention to the doses that seem comfortable for you and reduce them if you have any negative effects such as anxiety, a racing heartbeat, an upset stomach, or headaches.