Is Decaf Coffee Safe?

A stimulating cup of coffee is something most of us need, especially when we feel too lazy to get up from the bed. Well, it is the presence of caffeine in coffee that energizes us. Caffeine is a bitter substance that stimulates the central nervous system. This is the reason why drinking caffeinated drinks such as coffee or tea makes us feel energized and alters our level of alertness. Some of us are almost dependent on coffee and find it really hard to start our day till we have a hot cup of coffee in the morning. While you might feel alert after drinking coffee, you must never indulge in excessive consumption of coffee. Excess of anything is bad, and caffeine is not an exception to that. If you cannot give it up completely, always remember to drink it in moderation. Since many people are aware of the side effects of caffeine, many of them are turning over to decaf coffee. Decaffeinated coffee is made by processing coffee beans. While coffee is decaffeinated, the contents that impart flavor to coffee are retained, while a substantial portion of its caffeine content is removed. Is decaf coffee safe? Let's find out whether any health risks are associated with the consumption of decaf coffee.

Decaffeinated Coffee Process

As mentioned earlier, decaf coffee is made by removing most of the caffeine content from the coffee beans. Let's find out how that's done. One of the commonly used process is referred to as Swiss Water process. This involves soaking the coffee beans in hot water so that coffee solids and caffeine are released from coffee beans. After that coffee beans are separated and the water in which these were soaked is passed through a carbon filter. Most of the caffeine is absorbed by the filter. Subsequent batches of coffee beans are then added to this flavor-charged water and filtration process is repeated till most of the caffeine content has been removed. Besides the aforementioned process, another commonly used method involves the use of ethyl acetate. In this process, coffee beans are first steamed for about thirty minutes and then rinsed with ethyl acetate solvent for about ten hours. The caffeine that is absorbed by this solvent is then removed. At times, other chemicals might also be used for extracting caffeine out of the coffee beans.

Is Decaf Coffee Safe?

Though a substantial amount of caffeine is usually removed from coffee beans with the help of the aforementioned processes, there is still a small amount of caffeine left in coffee beans. So, those of you who gulp down many cups of decaf coffee must understand that caffeine is still entering into your body as you drink decaf coffee. Since caffeine content is lower in decaf coffee, many people think it is safer to drink decaf coffee. Is decaf coffee safe to drink during pregnancy? Well, most women refrain from consumption of coffee during pregnancy, as they are well-aware of the adverse effects of caffeine on the development of fetus. Though there hasn't been a lot of research to provide evidence on decaffeinated coffee and pregnancy, if you listen to experts debating on whether or not decaf coffee is safe during pregnancy, they all agree that decaf coffee is definitely safer than regular coffee. In case of decaf coffee, most of the caffeine content is removed by chemical processes, so the health risks are greatly reduced. Those women who cannot give up coffee entirely during the course of pregnancy, therefore, have the option of switching to decaf coffee. However, remember that small amounts of caffeine are still present in decaf coffee, so, drinking too many cups of decaf coffee daily might still have an adverse effect on the fetus. The connection between excessive consumption of caffeine and miscarriages has long been established, so exercise caution.

Health Risks of Decaf Coffee

The caffeine content in coffee depends on a variety of factors such as the type of coffee beans, brewing method, the degree of roast and also the type of process used for ridding coffee beans of the caffeine content. Generally robusta beans are used for making decaf coffee because of their strong aroma and flavor, but these coffee beans have a high fat content. Research reveals that a high intake of decaf coffee could stimulate the production of fatty acids and might make one susceptible to high cholesterol levels or heart disease. Some of the decaf coffee side effects that might be attributed to excessive consumption are due to the acidic nature of coffee. Drinking a lot of decaf coffee gives rise to acidity, which in turn, might lead to ulcers in the lining of stomach, heartburn or acid reflux. Studies also reveal that excessive intake of decaf coffee might lead to loss of calcium, which might make one susceptible to osteoporosis. Health risks might also be associated with the presence of chemicals used for separating caffeine from coffee beans. Use of methylene chloride solvent for the process of decaffeination is definitely a major concern. Since this substance is a carcinogen, even if small traces of it are left in coffee beans, problems could arise. So, to be on the safer side, the wise thing to do would be to restrict the regular intake of decaf coffee. While it is safer to refrain from drinking coffee during pregnancy, if you do have coffee, make sure that you don't drink more than 2 cups of coffee in a day.

I hope that this article on, 'Is decaf coffee safe' helped you comprehend the health risks associated with high intake of decaf coffee. Caffeine is addictive, so, indulging in excessive consumption of coffee is one habit that you must change. If you cannot give up coffee, at least make sure that you drink decaf coffee in moderation.