Drinking coffee may reduce the risk of stroke in women.

A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, killing brain cells. It is the second leading cause of disability and death worldwide, affecting the lives of roughly 102 million people. Evidence suggests that inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of strokes. Findings from a 2011 study suggest that coffee reduces the risk of stroke in women.

Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages worldwide. It is rich in polyphenolic compounds, including quercetin, chlorogenic acid, and others, that exert beneficial health effects in humans. Evidence suggests that coffee reduces inflammation.

The study involved nearly 35,000 women enrolled in the Swedish Mammography Cohort. The women, who had no history of cardiovascular disease or cancer at the time of their enrollment, completed questionnaires about their coffee consumption and other lifestyle habits. Using hospital medical records, the investigators gathered information about whether the women experienced a stroke during a 10-year follow-up period.

They found that drinking coffee was associated with a reduced risk of strokes, even after taking other risk factors into consideration, such as smoking, body mass index, diabetes, hypertension, or alcohol consumption. On average, drinking 1 to 2 cups daily reduced risk by 22 percent; 3 to 4 cups reduced risk by 25 percent; 5 or more cups reduced risk by 23 percent.

These findings suggest that moderate coffee consumption reduces the risk of stroke in women. Other lifestyle behaviors may reduce stroke risk, too, such as sauna use, which may reduce risk by as much as half. Learn more in this presentation by Dr. Rhonda Patrick.

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