Which Coffee Is for You? Your Genetic Code Knows

The coffee you choose to drink may be related to your genetics, according to a study by researchers at the University of South Australia, who examined the habitual coffee consumption of close to 400,000 people and discovered that the type of and how much coffee we drink is likely to be an indicator of our cardio health. “People drink coffee for all sorts of reasons—as a pick-me-up, when they’re feeling tired, because it tastes good or simply because it’s part of their daily routine,” says lead researcher Professor Elina Hyppönen. “But what we don’t recognize is that people subconsciously self-regulate safe levels of caffeine based on how high their blood pressure is, and this is likely a result of a protective genetic mechanism.” Hyppönen notes that people who drink large amounts of coffee are likely more genetically tolerant of caffeine, while non-coffee drinkers, or those who drink decaffeinated coffee, are more likely prone to the adverse effects of caffeine, and more susceptible to high blood pressure. “This study shows that genetics are guiding our decisions to protect our cardio health,” Hyppönen says.