An expert has urged people to start their day with a specific hot drink because of its potential to reduce the risk of deadly illness. According to Professor Tim Spector, founder of Zoe Health, drinking coffee may help protect against heart disease.

In a message addressed to his Instagram page, Tim revealed that coffee is full of fiber and polyphenols, both of which are beneficial to our health. It also revealed that research has linked the drink to lower rates of heart disease.

“Coffee drinkers suffer less from heart disease than non-coffee drinkers,” he said. However, he warned that this comes with a “caveat”.

Some people are sensitive to caffeine and it could be dangerous for them to drink the beverage, he warned.

They “might have a faster pulse” and feel “real effects from the caffeine.”

He said: “But it certainly doesn’t kill them or cause any permanent damage and they just know to avoid drinking. And that’s why these long-term studies showed it. Not only is it safe, but it also has protective properties on the heart.

Tim admitted he couldn’t start his day “without coffee.” He continued: “And I’m not alone, over two billion cups are drunk every day – but what effect does this habit have on our health?

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“Well, like most things, it probably depends on your biology. Although coffee is full of polyphenols and fiber that have been shown to benefit gut health, for those of us who are sensitive to caffeine, the costs may outweigh these benefits.

His advice is supported by a study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology in 2022. This found that people who drank two to three cups of coffee every day had a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death than those who avoided the drink.

The study included nearly 450,000 people with an average age of 58 who did not have an irregular heart rhythm (such as atrial fibrillation) or cardiovascular disease (such as heart disease, heart failure or stroke) at beginning. They reported how many cups of coffee they drank each day and their preferred coffee choice.

They were then divided into groups based on their daily coffee consumption, from zero to more than five cups. After a 12-year period, the incidence of irregular heartbeat, cardiovascular disease, cardiac death, and death from any cause was lower among coffee drinkers than among those who did not. were not drinking.

People who consumed two to three cups a day had the lowest risk of cardiovascular disease and death. Whereas, in case of irregular heartbeat, the lowest risk was among those who drank four to five cups a day. All types of coffee were associated with less cardiovascular disease.

However, decaffeinated coffee consumption was not associated with a reduced risk of heart rhythm irregularities. Writing about the study, experts from Harvard Health said coffee’s protective benefits may come from its high amounts of polyphenols, which “help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation.”

In general, coffee is considered safe, although high doses can cause anxiety, increase blood pressure, and lead to heart palpitations and trouble sleeping. Pregnant women are also advised to avoid coffee, with the NHS saying there is “no known safe level of caffeine while you are pregnant”.