What is the Connection Between Caffeine and Cholesterol?

Some people have theorized that the connection between caffeine and cholesterol might be a harmful one and have questioned whether or not drinking coffee or other caffeinated beverages might lead to a rise in a person’s cholesterol levels. So far, most studies have failed to demonstrate such a connection. This is not to say, however, that there are absolutely no adverse effects to drinking caffeinated beverages. For example, some people have headaches related to caffeine use or even develop an addiction to it.

Often, the focus of conversations that analyze the relationship between caffeine and cholesterol is on coffee. This may be due to the fact that a large number of people drink coffee on a daily basis. The fact of the matter is, however, that filtered coffee has not been found to increase a person’s cholesterol levels. Likewise, the consumption of coffee has not been linked to heart disease that is related to cholesterol. Additionally, studies have also failed to show a connection between caffeine and cholesterol in people who drink a good deal of tea and soda.

Interestingly, some studies have shown a possible connection between raised cholesterol levels and a person's coffee consumption. This connection, however, does not stem from the caffeine in the coffee beverage. Instead, only unfiltered coffee seems to have an adverse effect on a person’s blood cholesterol levels. In such a case, the cause of the problem are terpenes found in unfiltered coffee. Terpenes are oils that are present not only in regular coffee that hasn't been filtered, but also in espresso.

Though studies have demonstrated that caffeine is unlikely to increase a person’s blood cholesterol levels, this does not mean the substance will not have an effect on the body. Caffeine is a stimulant that can increase one’s heart rate as well as his alertness. It can also affect a person’s sleep patterns by making it more difficult for him to fall or stay asleep. Some people may also experience headaches in relation to drinking large amounts of caffeine or when they do not consume as much of it as they usually do.

Besides the fact that there seems to be no connection between caffeine and cholesterol, most scientists agree that caffeine is usually not harmful for the body. If a person is of basic good health, consuming caffeine in moderation will usually not prove harmful. Consuming excessive amounts of caffeine may, however, cause health problems.