Is it recommended to consume Decaf coffee?
The term decaf coffee is trending in the recent times with its popularity amongst the individuals who prefer the unique taste of coffee avoiding the consumption of caffeine. Further, the question arises: is it recommended to consume Decaf coffee? In this article, we will discover the merits, drawbacks, and if it really suitable to consume for your healthy lifestyle preferences.
What is Decaf Coffee?
Decaf coffee is a particular coffee type that has majority of the caffeine eliminated. It involves a systematic process where the regular coffee beans are treated to remove the caffeine content from them. It allows the coffee lovers to enjoy the aromatic flavor of coffee without stimulating the caffeine effects.
The first commercial decaf coffee was made available in 1906 by a German merchant named Ludwig Roselius. He aimed to remove the caffeine content from coffee believing it to be the sole reason behind his father’s death. He accidentally got the solution for his problem as one of his shipments containing coffee beans got submerged in seawater, eventually revealing an unexpected transformation as the brewed coffee had a minimum amount of caffeine content. Hence, the German merchant patented this technique of processing coffee with chemical solvents to remove caffeine which is still in use.
How much caffeine in Decaf Coffee?
The coffee beans undergo a decaffeination process to eliminate most of the caffeine content. However, even after treating coffee with solvents, the decaffeinated coffee is not totally caffeine free. As per the regulations provided by the European Union, decaffeinated coffee should have less than 0.3% of caffeine.
Does decaf coffee have caffeine?
The level of caffeine content in the treated coffee depends on various factors such as type of beans used, region of harvest, quality of coffee beans, and its preparation type. A decaffeinated coffee cup of 250ml has around 2-5mg of caffeine, whereas the regular coffee cup contains 70-140mg of caffeine content which is way higher than found in this coffee.
What are the health merits of decaf coffee?
Coffee has multiple health benefits:
- Enhanced Sleep: The higher caffeine content in regular coffee blocks adenosine which regulates sleeping patterns. The consumption of this coffee especially in the evening period refrains the coffee lovers from sleep disturbances and enhances the sleep quality.
- Hydration and Anti-oxidants: It keeps the body hydrated with a regular fluid intake with primary content as water in decaf coffee. coffee does not dehydrate you. Further, it has beneficial antioxidants which plays a crucial role in reducing the oxidative stress and inflammations. The reduction in body inflammation also provides added protection against liver disease.
- Protection against certain Health Conditions: It has been helpful to overcome certain health condition such as Type2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers especially colon and rectal cancers due to the content of antioxidants in decaf coffee.
- Digestive comfort: It is a boon for the people who face gastrointestinal issues due to consumption of caffeine, transition to decaf coffee can provide them digestive comfort alleviating acid reflux symptoms.
- Pregnancy: It is strictly recommended to consume less than 200mg of caffeine intake throughout the day for a pregnant lady. Two cups of regular coffee can exceed this regulation, hence switching to decaf coffee can be a much safer and healthier alternative.
Final Words
The consumption of decaf coffee is a better option in every way over regular coffee with its added health benefits. It is most suitable alternative for individuals who have craving for coffee and cannot avoid the aromatic drink. It is to keep in mind that decaf coffee is not totally caffeine free, it contains traces of caffeine but in a reasonably small amount.
