How much coffee is safe to drink?

Drinking up to five cups of coffee per day is safe for most adults and may even lower your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, according to a new report.

The findings were part of a scientific statement issued on Monday by the American Heart Association. The group assembled a panel of experts that reviewed decades of data on caffeine and cardiovascular disease. The group concluded that consuming up to 400 milligrams of caffeine daily — up to five, 8-ounce cups of coffee — is unlikely to cause harm in most adults. It’s also associated with a lower likelihood of developing a long list of conditions, including heart disease, stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes.

However, the group cautioned that consuming higher levels of caffeine, especially from energy drinks, may increase the risk of high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms and other cardiovascular problems. The group noted that a typical energy drink may contain three to four times the amount of caffeine found in a regular cup of caffeinated coffee.

Click here to learn more about the proven health benefits of drinking coffee.

Catch up quickly every weekday morning with a rundown of the 7 most important and interesting stories. Sign up for The 7 newsletter.