Drinking caffeinated coffee may help improve blood flow, Counsel and Heal reported.
In a study presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2013, researchers studied the effects of caffeinated coffee on 27 adults, between the ages of 22 and 30, who were not regular coffee drinkers.
The researchers asked the participants to drink a cup of caffeinated coffee and then measured the blood flow in their fingers using non-invasive laser Doppler flowmetry. Two days after this procedure, the participants returned and repeated the experiment using decaffeinated coffee.
Overall, participants experienced a 30 percent increase in blood flow to their fingers for 75 minutes after drinking caffeinated coffee, compared to when they drank decaffeinated coffee, Counsel and Heal reported.
According to the researchers, caffeinated coffee raised the participants’ blood pressure, leading to improved function in the inner linings of their blood vessels.
"If we know how the positive effects of coffee work, it could lead to a new treatment strategy for cardiovascular disease in the future," said lead researcher Dr. Masato Tsutsui, a cardiologist and professor in the pharmacology department at the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan.