Is It True What They Say About Decaf?
Most people who drink decaffeinated coffee do so because it doesn't
make them jittery or keep them awake. But some believe it's better
for them than regular coffee even though coffee has been cleared
of nearly all health charges, and may actually be beneficial. Is
decaf somehow healthier than regular coffee? Or does the decaffeination
process itself represent a health risk? On the other hand, many
are drinking tea because they've heard how healthy it is. If they
drink decaf tea, they may wonder, do they get the health benefits?
Here are answers to these and other questions.
How much caffeine does decaf contain?
It must have at least 97% of the caffeine
removed. That leaves about 5 milligrams, compared to the 100 to
150 milligrams in 6 ounces of brewed coffee. Tea starts with much
less caffeine, so most decaf tea has even less caffeine than decaf
How is coffee or tea decaffeinated?
There are three methods to extract the
caffeine: using organic chemical solvents (methylene chloride or
ethyl acetate), carbon dioxide, or the water method (also known
as the Swiss Water method). Since ethyl acetate is derived from
fruit, coffee de-caffeinated via this solvent is sometimes described
as natural decaf. Some coffee or tea processors use different methods
for their various products.
Is one type of decaf preferable?
No. Over the years there have been worries
about decaf processed with methylene chloride because studies had
found that this chemical caused cancer when inhaled by lab animals
(which is why it was banned in hair sprays). But there was no carcinogenic
effect when the animals drank the chemical. In any case, the residue
in decaf is virtually nil, and there's no evidence of any
danger for humans drinking decaf. The FDA has approved the compound
for use in decaffeination. Many companies, including Starbucks (except
for its decaf mocha java), use methylene chloride because consumers
tend to prefer the taste compared to, say, water-filtered decaf,
which usually tastes blander.
Does regular coffee pose any health
Coffee has been blamed for causing many
ailments, but in nearly every instance it has been declared not
guilty, as we have reported over the years. It was linked to heart
disease and pancreatic cancer but then exonerated. Some researchers
still worry that coffee drinking may promote hypertension; most
studies, however, have found no such effect. A few studies have
suggested that large quantities of coffee (regular or decaf) can
boost blood cholesterol slightly, but most research has found no
increase in cholesterol or cardiovascular risk. One exception: drinking
five or more cups of unfiltered coffee, brewed in a French press
(a pot with a plunger), raises cholesterol. The great majority of
Americans and Canadians, however, drink filtered coffee.
Caffeine actually has potential benefits.
Besides boosting alertness, it has an analgesic effect, which is
why it is added to some pain relievers. Several studies also suggest
it helps prevent Parkinson's disease. A Finnish study in the
New England Journal of Medicine in March found that coffee
may reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes. And there's preliminary
evidence suggesting it may help against gallstones and dental cavities.
What about decaf, does it pose
Though decaf has been less studied than
regular coffee, it too has been the focus of several health scares
that have so far not panned out. For instance, a recent study of
women in Iowa found that those drinking four or more cups a day
of decaf had an elevated risk of rheumatoid arthritis, but a more
recent study from Harvard found no such link.
Decaf can, however, have some of the
same effects on the body as regular coffee. It too can cause heartburn
or irritate stomach ulcers in susceptible people. And oddly enough,
even without the caffeine, it too can stimulate the nervous system
and briefly boost blood pressure in those unaccustomed to coffee,
according to Swiss researchers. But coffee, decaf or regular, does
not cause hypertension.
Is decaffeinated tea as healthful
No one knows. The studies suggesting
health benefits have looked at people who drink a lot of regular
tea, not decaf. The benefits apparently come from antioxidant compounds
called flavonoids. Decaf tea generally contains less of these, though
flavonoid content varies widely among teas, so it is hard to predict.
The levels also depend on how the tea was processed. Moreover, not
all types of flavonoids are lower in decaf tea, and it's not known
which ones are most important. A few studies suggest that decaffeinated
teas do have potential anti-cancer effects. For instance, one study
found that smokers who drank four cups of decaffeinated green tea
daily for four months had significantly reduced DNA damage, as shown
by urine tests. Another study gauged the total antioxidant capacity
of various teas and found that some decafs rank higher than some
On the horizon:
Coffee plants are now being genetically engineered to have 70% less
caffeine. But it will take another four to five years for the plants
to mature and produce beans. And it's not known whether coffee from
these beans will taste better or worse than today's decaf.
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