☕ The Healthiest Way to Drink Coffee: Harvard Doctor Reveals the Best Time, Ratio, and Brewing Method
If coffee is your daily ritual for waking up, it’s worth learning how to drink it in the healthiest way possible. According to a Washington Post report, Harvard Medical School researcher Trisha Pasricha reviewed dozens of studies and shared smart strategies for healthier coffee habits.
Her findings revealed that people who drink coffee before noon have a 16% lower risk of death compared to those who consume it throughout the day, including the afternoon and evening. Moreover, unfiltered coffee was associated with a higher mortality rate.
☀️ When to Drink Coffee Matters
Timing plays a major role in coffee’s health effects. A large study analyzing more than 40,000 Americans found that individuals who drank coffee only before noon had about a 16% lower overall mortality risk than those who kept drinking into the afternoon or night.
🧂 The Ideal Sugar and Milk Ratio
Dr. Pasricha recommends a simple, healthy formula for your cup:
- Sugar: No more than 1 teaspoon per cup
- Whole milk: Up to 2 tablespoons per cup
The World Health Organization (WHO) advises keeping total daily sugar intake under 6 teaspoons for women and 9 teaspoons for men.
A 2022 study also found that people who drink black coffee have the lowest mortality risk, even when consuming over 4.5 cups per day. Adding a small amount of sugar—just 1 teaspoon—still preserves most of coffee’s health benefits.
☕ How You Brew Makes a Difference
While French press and traditional espresso offer strong aroma and rich flavor, studies suggest that unfiltered coffee may raise cholesterol levels and long-term health risks.
A 2020 Norwegian study involving half a million participants found that unfiltered coffee drinkers had a higher mortality rate. The reason lies in compounds called diterpenes, which can raise LDL (“bad”) cholesterol by reducing the liver’s ability to clear it.
The good news? Paper filters can effectively trap these cholesterol-raising compounds. That means filtered drip coffee remains the healthiest brewing method.
Interestingly, both instant and capsule coffees are technically filtered during processing, so they fall into the “safer” category as well.
🩺 Key Takeaways
☕ Final Thoughts
Coffee lovers don’t need to give up their favorite drink to stay healthy—just adjust the timing and method. By sipping your brew earlier in the day and choosing filtered options with minimal sugar, you can enjoy both the pleasure and health benefits of coffee.
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