Coffee Slashes Stroke Risk in Women by 25%

STOCKHOLMWomen who drink one to five cups of coffee a day may lower their risk of stroke by 22 percent to 25 percent compared to those who drink less, according to a new study published in the journal Stroke.

Researchers at Karolinska Institute followed 34,670 women between ages 49 and 83 with no history of cardiovascular disease who participated in the Swedish Mammography Cohort. Over a follow-up of 10.4 years, low or no coffee consumption was associated with a higher risk of stroke. Women who reported drinking one to two cups daily, three to four cups per day or five or more cups daily had a 22 percent to 25 percent lower risk of stroke than those consuming less than one cup per day. There was no association with smoking status, body mass index, history of diabetes, hypertension or alcohol consumption.