Coffee and coronaries

Having a high blood level of homocysteine, a naturally occurring amino acid, may be a risk factor for heart disease, and drinking four or more cups of coffee a day can raise your level, a new Dutch study suggests. Switching to decaf won't help, either: The research at the Wageningen Centre for Food Sciences found that chlorogenic acid, a polyphenol found in all types of coffee as well as in black tea, is a contributing factor. Fruits and vegetables (especially leafy green ones) contain folate, which can help lower homocysteine. Other good folate sources include fortified cereals, lentils, chickpeas (garbanzos) and most beans.