Do you need to drink a steaming cup of coffee to kick-start your day? Are you aware that the caffeine content in coffee may adversely affect your health? Well, if you love your coffee and cannot give up on it, then you have an alternative – it is decaf coffee!
Decaf coffee comes with a host of health benefits. Would you like to know what they are? Go ahead with your read!
Regular coffee has many health benefits; not just because of caffeine, but also other components that contribute to its taste, color, and aroma. These components include:
Caffeine is a legal drug that stimulates the central nervous system and causes an increase in heart rate, alertness, and blood pressure.
There are several side effects of caffeine. People who are sensitive to caffeine can experience these side effects with as little as 10 milligrams of caffeine, or approximately 2 cups of decaf coffee. Some of the common caffeine related health issues include:
The caffeine in coffee induces side effects like withdrawal, anxiety, restlessness and headaches.
Coffee can increase the levels of blood pressure, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (1), and homocysteine (2). It can lead to cardiovascular complications.
There are diverse opinions on the adverse effects of caffeine.
However, it is safe to say that moderate coffee consumption of about 3-4 cups per day does not lead to any health risk and may even have a number of health benefits.
Decaf coffee is coffee with lesser amounts of caffeine. According to US FDA, decaffeinated coffee should not have more than 3 percent caffeine content. . However, the term decaffeinated is not the same as caffeine-free. Decaffeinated coffee still has some caffeine.
So, how much caffeine does decaf coffee contain? Six ounces of regular coffee contain 100 to 150 milligrams of caffeine. Same amount of decaf coffee will contain about five milligrams of caffeine.
The high levels of antioxidants in decaf coffee reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes (3). The Chlorogenic acid in decaf coffee minimizes glucose production in the liver and regulates the blood sugar levels in the body.
As decaf is rich in antioxidants, it helps keep aging at bay (4)! So, forget your expensive anti-wrinkle creams and Botox treatments! Instead go ahead and sip on decaf coffee and watch the fine lines disappear from your visage!
Decaf coffee is a storehouse of antioxidants that can fight cancer. Studies reveal how people who drink decaf coffee have lower risks of colon cancer. It also helps prevent breast cancer in women.
Caffeine intake may lead to health conditions like irregular palpitations (5), heart attacks and strokes. As decaf coffee has very little caffeine content, it lowers the risk of caffeine-induced cardiovascular complications.
Decaf coffee retains the precious polyphenols, which boost the brain’s cognitive abilities and improve memory (6).
Older people and Type 2 diabetics both suffer from mental decline because of a decrease in the metabolism of sugar. Decaf coffee boosts the metabolism of sugar (7), or aids in the breakdown of sugar into energy. Studies reveal that decaf coffee can help prevent mental decline due to aging.
Gout is a result of the build-up of uric acid in the body. It is a form of inflammatory arthritis (8). A research at the University of British Columbia and Harvard Medical School proves that men who drink four or more cups of decaffeinated coffee per day have a lower risk of gout in comparison to non-decaf coffee drinkers.
Type 2 diabetes increases the risk of kidney dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and heart diseases. According to research, people who consume a higher quantity of decaffeinated coffee lower the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, and hence keep the threat of chronic inflammation and kidney damage at bay (9).
A scientific study states that people who drink moderate amounts of decaf coffee per day have lower levels of liver enzymes (10), in comparison to people who do not drink coffee at all.
Decaf coffee reduces the burden on your digestive system. Studies suggest that the consumption of decaf coffee may help decrease the chances of dietary carcinogens (11).
Remember, decaf coffee is healthy if you make it with less sugar and cream.
So, if you want to be healthy, drink decaf coffee in moderation. Remember it still has some caffeine.
Now you know the health benefits of decaf coffee. So, why wait? Go ahead and grab a steaming cuppa right away!
Do you love your decaf coffee? Tell us how it works wonders for you. Leave a comment in the box below.