Ask Dr. J—Coffee and LDL

Ask Dr. J—Coffee

Question: Can drinking too much coffee raise LDL (bad) cholesterol?

Answer: This is a good question, especially since I am a coffee lover! Actually, this raise in LDL cholesterol only applies to boiled or unfiltered coffee. A raise in LDL is not the result of caffeine, but rather, by the ingredients in the coffee. In fact, the LDL is only raised when the coffee grounds have been brewed for a long period of time, or when brewed coffee has been left to sit at high temperatures for long periods of time.