There’s so much our bodies do for us every day that it’s easy to take for granted. The ability to see clearly, listen to music and walk around without being in pain are, for many people, done without even thinking about it. The same goes for all the hard work the cardiovascular system does. How often do you think about the health of your arteries, for example? Probably not very often.
Artery health is crucial for ensuring oxygen and nutrients are delivered to all the cells throughout the body. Having arteries that are weak or clogged can cause major, life-threatening problems. If plaque builds up in the heart’s arteries, this could cause a heart attack. Blockages in arteries supplying the brain with oxygen and nutrients can lead to a stroke.
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Some causes of plaque buildup in the arteries (known as atherosclerosis) or coronary artery disease (when fats, cholesterol and other substances build up in the heart’s arteries) are diabetes, high blood pressure, lack of exercise and using tobacco.
Diet also plays a role. The best foods for artery health include leafy greens, whole grains, nuts, avocado, olive oil, seafood and lean proteins. Maybe you already do your best to maintain a healthy diet and pay close attention to what you eat. But how about what you drink?
Often, the emphasis on maintaining a nutritious diet is on food and not what we drink. But what you sip on matters just as much as what you eat, and there’s one popular coffee drink in particular that could be negatively impacting your arteries without you even realizing it.
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If you’re in the habit of drinking flavored oat milk lattes regularly, you could be negatively impacting your artery health without even realizing it. “Something that surprises many people is that some large specialty oat milk lattes can contain as much sugar as a soft drink, especially once flavored syrups are added,” says Dr. Minhal Makshood, MD, a cardiologist with MedStar Health.
How is the sugar content in flavored oat milk lattes connected to artery health? Dr. Makshood explains that, over time, regularly consuming high-sugar beverages may contribute to weight gain, insulin resistance, elevated triglycerides and chronic inflammation, all of which increase cardiovascular risk and can contribute to the development of atherosclerosis.
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Dr. Makshood notes one misconception about oat milk lattes is that they contain seed oils that negatively impact cardiovascular health. “The seed oils tend to receive a lot of attention on social media, but based on current evidence, they’re unlikely to be the primary concern in an oat milk latte. From a cardiologist’s perspective, excess added sugar and excess calories have far stronger evidence linking them to cardiovascular disease,” she tells Parade.
While espresso on its own can support cardiovascular health, Dr. Makshood says that the negative impact from the sugar in flavored coffees ends up outweighing the benefits from the espresso.
“A shot of espresso may provide antioxidants and other beneficial compounds, but if it’s paired with large amounts of sugar, flavored syrups, whipped cream and excess calories, the overall cardiovascular impact becomes much less favorable,” she explains.
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How Does Coffee Impact Artery Health?
While flavored syrups in coffee drinks can negatively impact artery health, coffee and espresso on their own do not. In fact, they can actually support heart health. “Moderate coffee consumption is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, heart failure, type 2 diabetes and even premature death in many large observational studies,” Dr. Makshood tells Parade.
In terms of what moderate consumption looks like, she says that for most healthy adults, it’s roughly two to four standard 8-ounce cups of brewed coffee a day. If you drink more than that, it can lead to heart palpitations, anxiety, insomnia and temporary increases in blood pressure. With that in mind, keep your intake under four cups a day, and even lower if you are sensitive to caffeine.
While caffeine intake does temporarily increase blood pressure by causing blood vessels to constrict, and this doesn’t mean it’s harmful to arteries. “What’s particularly interesting is that long-term coffee consumption has not been shown to promote plaque buildup in arteries. In fact, habitual coffee drinkers often have similar or even lower rates of cardiovascular events than people who don’t drink coffee,” she says.
Dr. Makshood adds that many people don’t realize is that how coffee is brewed matters when it comes to how it impacts cardiovascular health. She explains that paper-filtered coffee removes natural compounds called cafestol and kahweol that can raise LDL cholesterol. This is why filtered coffee is considered a healthier option than French press, Turkish coffee or other unfiltered preparations if heart health is the goal.
If you prefer lattes to coffee, you may wonder how other alternative milks, such as almond milk or soy milk, compare to oat milk when it comes to artery health. Dr. Makshood says that while there isn’t one alternative milk that’s best for everyone, there are some key differences to consider.
“Unsweetened soy milk is an excellent option because it provides high-quality protein and has been associated with favorable effects on cholesterol,” she explains.
As for unsweetened almond milk, Dr. Makshood adds that this milk is naturally lower in calories and carbohydrates, making it another good option for many people (particularly those who want to be mindful of their calorie intake), although it contains less protein.
It also isn't necessary to avoid oat milk completely. “Oat milk can certainly be part of a heart-healthy diet, but I encourage patients to choose unsweetened versions whenever possible and to pay attention to the nutrition label. The type of oat milk and everything else added to the drink matter more than the oat milk itself,” she says.
No matter which type of alternative milk you go for, making sure it’s unsweetened is the best way to support your heart health.
Remember, it’s what we consume regularly that impacts the body the most, including the arteries. If you’re enjoying a sweetened oat milk latte as a treat now and then, it’s nothing to lose sleep over. But if you’re a daily latte drinker, making sure the milk is unsweetened and you aren’t adding flavored syrups to your drink will ensure your coffee drink doesn’t just perk you up, but also supports your body.
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Sources
Arteries. Cleveland Clinic.Coronary artery disease. Mayo Clinic.Dr. Minhal Makshood, MD, cardiologist with MedStar Health.Mendoza, M. F., Martz Sulague, R., Posas-Mendoza, T., et al. (2023). Impact of Coffee Consumption on Cardiovascular Health.The Ochsner Journal. 23(2):152-158.Hence then, the article about this trendy coffee order could be clogging your arteries a cardiologist warns was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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