Under the title "Coffee, Chocolate, and Wine: Expert Explains Their Impact on the Heart," the Alhurra website published an article about heart health, noting that each year, Dr. Thomas Lüscher's team reviews over 3,000 scientific papers on the human heart, selecting only a few for publication in the European Heart Journal, one of the foremost scientific journals in this field. Recently, after leaving his position, Lüscher wrote an article addressing a question that has long perplexed many: what is the effect of chocolate, coffee, and wine on the heart? He suggests that the matter is more complex than simple judgments like "harmful" and "beneficial." The esteemed scientist, who has co-authored more than 500 research papers throughout his career, stated that multiple factors, such as quantity and type, can alter the impact, and scientists have yet to find answers to many questions concerning these foods.
According to The Guardian, Lüscher described white chocolate as being entirely unhealthy and noted that dark, bitter chocolate, free from sugar and fats, may be beneficial, although science has not yet determined the ideal healthful dosage. He highlighted that chocolate was once a rare food, but in modern times has become widely available and contributes to the spread of obesity. Regarding coffee, Lüscher mentioned that the more it is consumed, the less stimulating its effects become; however, drinking four cups a day could aid heart health. There is no evidence supporting the idea that wine improves heart health; its effect remains "neutral" at best.
Lüscher personally consumes no more than two glasses of wine per week and one or two cups of coffee daily. Dr. Tim Chico, a cardiovascular specialist and consultant at the University of Sheffield, concurs with Lüscher that there is evidence of benefits from chocolate and coffee, but no evidence of benefits from alcoholic beverages for the heart. Nutritionist Tracy Baker from the British Heart Foundation remarked that heart patients assume chocolate and coffee may harm them but feel greatly relieved to learn that this is not the case. Baker praised Lüscher's article as balanced and emphasized that the most important factor for heart health—and overall health—is maintaining a healthy lifestyle, which includes consuming fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, avoiding foods high in salts and fats, exercising regularly, and refraining from smoking.
