Is decaf even safe?
Decaf gets its name from the decaffeination process that typically removes around 97 % of the caffeine in coffee beans. On average, decaf coffee has 3 mg of caffeine per cup compared to the 85 mg in regular coffee. The decaffeination process starts with green, unroasted beans, which are soaked in water to dissolve the caffeine. Then methylene chloride or ethyl acetate are used to remove the caffeine from the water. Alternatively, a charcoal filter or liquid carbon dioxide can be used to remove the caffeine from the water without any chemicals. But all of these decaffeination methods have been deemed safe by the FDA, so no problem there.
Does decaf still provide the health benefits of coffee?
Yes, decaf contains fever antioxidants than regular coffee but still enough to be associated with a list of health benefits. There is research linking decaf consumption to lower risk of rectal cancer, type 2 diabetes, and diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. It may even lower mortality thanks to its positive effect on inflammation and depression.
What are the advantages of decaf over coffee?
Arguably, regular coffee is boasting even more health benefits than decaf but that might be simply because caffeinated coffee has been studied a lot more. Plus, there are a lot of people who have issues drinking coffee but can handle decaf just fine. Decaf is much less likely to produce acid reflux, heartburn, and stomach discomfort because the decaffeination process makes it milder. Many people also experience anxiety, sleeplessness, high blood pressure, and fatigue after consuming caffeine.
It’s healthier for some
If your digestion can tolerate the acidity of regular coffee fine and caffeine is not a problem for you, then decaf most likely isn’t a big improvement health wise. But if you feel like you’re losing sleep or just don’t handle coffee well, then decaf might be the perfect solution for you. You can still enjoy similar health benefits and the heavenly taste of coffee with none of the drawbacks.
