Coffee May Protect Heart Health While Energy Drinks Could Increase Cardiac Risk: Study - Video

Coffee and energy drinks may both contain caffeine, but they don't affect your heart in the same way.

A new scientific statement from the American Heart Association, published in Circulation, says that most healthy adults can safely consume up to 400 mg of caffeine a day. That's about 3 to 5 cups of regular black coffee, and for many people, this amount may even be linked to a lower risk of heart disease, heart failure, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

However, researchers warn that not all caffeine sources are equally safe.

Unlike coffee, energy drinks and energy shots often contain much higher concentrations of caffeine along with other ingredients that may speed up caffeine absorption. These products have been linked to high blood pressure, heart palpitations, and irregular heart rhythms, even in young, healthy adults.

Researchers explain that coffee is a complex drink containing natural compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which may help protect the heart. This could explain why coffee and energy drinks, despite both containing caffeine, may have different health effects.

The review also found that filtered black coffee was generally associated with better heart health. However, adding large amounts of sugar, flavored syrups, cream, or sweeteners may reduce these potential benefits.

In the short term, caffeine can temporarily increase blood pressure, heart rate, blood sugar, and alertness. Some people may also experience anxiety, sleep problems, or heart palpitations, especially if they are sensitive to caffeine.

The researchers stress that people respond to caffeine differently based on age, genetics, medications, and existing health conditions. While moderate coffee consumption appears safe for most adults, they recommend avoiding high-dose caffeine products, especially energy drinks, until more research is available.

REFERENCE: Gregory M. Marcus, Frank B. Hu, Rob M. van Dam, Marilyn C. Cornelis, Thomas A. Dewland, JungHee Kang, Susanna C. Larsson, Robert L. Page, Niyati Parekh. Caffeine and Cardiovascular Disease: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation, 2026; DOI: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000001454