Should You Drink Coffee If Your Joints Hurt?

Need a cup of coffee to get you going through your day?

Besides tasting great and giving you a quick pick-me-up…

Did you know that the caffeine inside your coffee can affect your joints?

In today’s guide, we’ll break down whether or not your daily coffee is hurting or helping your joints - whether that’s your knees, back, hips, shoulders, neck or anywhere else.

You’ll also discover:

- How many cups of coffee is safe to drink daily?

Be careful, if you drink more than a certain number of cups everyday… Studies show it can DOUBLE your risk of developing Rheumatoid arthritis (see how many cups below)

- Recommended limits on daily caffeine intake (based on studies)

- Why decaf coffee actually DOES contain some caffeine. Watch out for this trap!

What Do The Studies Show?

The research on how coffee and caffeine affects your joints is mixed.

But today, we’ll do our best to drill it down to the truth, and provide some concrete recommendations on what you can do today.

The Pros

There have been many studies around caffeine and coffee. Research shows that when consumed in moderation, it can have certain health benefits.

Some of these benefits include:

- Keeping you alert and reducing fatigue

- Increasing performance during your workouts

- Mental sharpness

In addition to this, coffee contains antioxidants and polyphenols which can be beneficial for protecting your cells.

Several other active compounds inside coffee also contain anti-inflammatory properties - which can help when it comes to reducing pain(1).

The Cons

However, there are also studies that show that coffee can worsen certain types of arthritis.

For example, in a study published in the journal, Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, discovered that coffee can increase the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis(2).

More specifically… People who drank 4 or more cups of coffee daily were TWO times more likely to develop arthritis, than those who drank less.

Studies also show that caffeine intake may also affect the growth of cartilage and bone.

This means it could potentially increase the risk of osteoarthritis.

Despite the pros, a study published in 2020 recommends limiting caffeine intake to reduce this risk factor(3).

So What’s The Verdict? To Drink Or Not To Drink?

If you limit your daily caffeine intake, it can be okay to continue drinking coffee.

Most studies show that large amounts of coffee is correlated to risk of developing various joint and health conditions.

So keeping it under the recommended amounts is a good guideline to follow.

Research shows that you should keep your daily caffeine intake under 400 milligrams(2).

For example, a double-shot espresso contains roughly 125 mg of caffeine.

So you’d want to stick to no more than 2 cups a day to stay on the safe side.

Remember to include caffeine sources from other sources.

Including soft drinks, energy drinks, black or green tea, chocolate and so on.

Also keep in mind that decaf coffee can also contain small amounts of caffeine (anywhere up to 7 mg of caffeine).

These all add up, so it's best to stick to roughly 200 mg of caffeine a day, as this will give you leeway for other sources of caffeine.

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Should You Drink Coffee If Your Joints Hurt?