A cup of coffee a day may help protect against AFib, a common heart health issue

Melatonin may have adverse health effects, according to new study

Consistently taking melatonin supplements was associated with a higher risk of heart failure, according to a new preliminary study.

Your coffee addiction may have a surprising health benefit.

Just one cup of joe is associated with reduced occurrence of atrial fibrillation (AFib), a common form of abnormal heartbeat that causes your heart to race and can lead to blood clots, stroke or heart failure. That’s the finding of the DECAF (Does Eliminating Coffee Avoid Fibrillation?) study published Nov. 9 in the medical journal JAMA, which aimed to answer how coffee affects those with irregular heartbeats.

In a six-month clinical trial of 200 patients with AFib, coffee-drinkers averaging one cup per day were 47% less likely to have AFib episodes compared to 64% of non-coffee drinkers. The findings contrast with the traditional assumption that coffee promotes unhealthy heart rhythms, according to the study.

Is our coffee habit helping our hearts?

Americans love coffee: 66% of adults in the U.S. drink coffee each day, on average about three cups according to the National Coffee Association. Prevailing advice says coffee is proarrhythmic, meaning it worsens or promotes dangerous heart flutters.

Wellness from USA TODAY: Lung cancer is becoming more common among young, healthy women.

But now research suggests normal coffee intake is better for those with AFib as opposed to cutting out the drink altogether. This is likely for a few reasons, the study says: Caffeine naturally occurring in coffee blocks specific receptors that facilitate AFib, the study says. Also, coffee contains antioxidants which reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure and manage blood sugar levels. And pouring that cup of coffee means you’re less likely to reach for unhealthy alternatives.

But be careful of taking your coffee consumption too far. The research was conducted using moderate coffee drinking levels, so the authors say the findings don’t apply to those who drink many cups. And it’s a good idea to connect with a medical provider before making any drastic dietary alterations.