I drink 1-2 cups of salted coffee every day. Could an expert please tell me if this drink is harmful to my health if consumed regularly? Who should limit their consumption? (Thu Hang - Tan Hung, Ho Chi Minh City).
Dr. Tran Chi Cuong - President of the Ho Chi Minh City Society of Neurointervention, advises:
Salted coffee is becoming a popular drink thanks to its rich, sweet, and strong flavor. However, frequent consumption of this beverage can lead to excessive intake of salt and sugar, which is especially dangerous for people with cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, or kidney failure.
When drinking coffee, users not only absorb caffeine but also consume a significant amount of salt. The worrying aspect is that the salt content in each cup of coffee is often difficult to control precisely.
According to medical recommendations, people at risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, or kidney failure should consume less than 5g of salt per day. Meanwhile, drinking several cups of salted coffee daily could exceed the recommended salt intake.
Furthermore, most salted coffees nowadays are usually mixed with condensed milk or cream to create a rich flavor and mellow the salty taste. This makes it difficult for many people to realize they are consuming quite a lot of salt and sugar in a single drink.
Furthermore, regular consumption of salted coffee may increase the risk of weight gain and difficulty controlling blood sugar, blood pressure, and blood lipids, especially in people who are dieting, trying to lose weight, or being treated for metabolic disorders.
Those who need to limit or avoid drinking coffee with salt.
The following groups of people need to be especially cautious when using salted coffee:
- People with high blood pressure.
- People with cardiovascular disease or at risk of stroke.
- People with diabetes.
- People with chronic kidney disease.
- People who are overweight, obese, trying to lose weight, or following a low-salt diet as prescribed by a doctor.
For these groups, consuming excessive amounts of salt and sugar from salted coffee can worsen the condition, increase the risk of cardiovascular complications, and complicate treatment.
Healthy people can drink it, but it shouldn't be overused. Drinking just one cup of salted coffee a day usually won't have a major impact on your health. However, if you drink 2-3 cups a day or maintain this for a long time, your body still risks accumulating too much salt, sugar, and caffeine.
Consuming excessive amounts of sugar and salt over a long period can increase the risk of diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular disease.
Therefore, people should not consider salted coffee a "harmless" drink just because of its pleasant taste. If you consume it, you need to drink it in moderation and control the total amount of salt and sugar in your daily diet.