Is Decaffeinated Coffee Bad for You

Caffeine, the main active ingredient in beverages like, coffee and tea is often blamed for a several health problems. It is also considered as the most widely consumed drug, which acts on the central nervous system to increase mental alertness and combat fatigue and sleepiness. In this regard, caffeine is considered as a psychoactive drug and like, other members of this family, caffeine too can cause addiction. With growing concerns about the health effects of caffeine, more and more people are switching over to decaffeinated coffee, which is the caffeine free version of their popular beverage. However, recent studies and researches have pointed out that the decaffeinated coffee may not be healthier than regular coffee, as assumed by many.

Coffee Decaffeination Process

The process of removing caffeine from coffee beans is known as decaffeination, which can be direct or indirect. There are basically three methods for eliminating caffeine from coffee beans. These methods basically involve soaking the coffee beans in water, in order to dissolve the caffeine. A solvent or activated carbon is then used to extract caffeine, after which the coffee beans are again soaked in the decaffeinated water, so that they can reabsorb the compounds that impart flavor to coffee. In indirect decaffeination, coffee beans do not come in contact with the solvent directly. The solvents that are usually employed in this process are, methylene chloride and ethyl acetate. Nowadays, ethyl acetate is more commonly used for this purpose, as it is a naturally occurring compound found in many fruits. Coffee, which is decaffeinated with the help of ethyl acetate is therefore, known as 'naturally decaffeinated' coffee.

Decaf Coffee

It is not completely free of caffeine. It is not possible to completely eliminate caffeine from coffee. However, a coffee to be sold as decaffeinated has to be at least 97% caffeine free. So, it contains a very small amount of caffeine, but even this small amount can matter for those, who are allergic to this substance. Apart from this, recent scientific studies have raised a concern about a possible association between decaffeinated coffee and increased level of cholesterol.

It has been found that decaffeinated coffee is often made from the Robusta beans. Decaffeination process extracts the compounds that are responsible for giving that unique flavor to coffee. Robusta beans have stronger flavor than the commonly used coffee beans, and this is the reason why they are used to make decaffeinate coffee. But, robusta beans are known to have higher fat content, which can stimulate the production of fatty acids in the body. This in turn, may increase the level of cholesterol and raise the risk of heart disease. Besides this, both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee contain chlorogenic acid, high level of which can raise the level of homocysteine, which in turn can increase the risk for cardiovascular diseases.

Another important fact about coffee is that it is acidic, as it can stimulate the over secretion of gastric acid. In this regard, it has been observed that coffee is more acidic than caffeine alone added to water. This can be considered as an indicator that in addition to caffeine, there are some other compounds in coffee that can be responsible for increasing acidity. Compared to regular coffee, decaffeinated coffee has been found to be more harmful in conditions like, acid reflux disease and gastric ulcers. Drinking decaf excessively has been associated with heartburn as well. The effects of decaf coffee on pregnant women are not known with certainty. But still, pregnant women should refrain from drinking too much of coffee, be it caffeinated or decaffeinated.

In addition to these side effects, excessive intake of caffeinated as well as decaffeinated coffee is supposed to have an association with demineralization of bones, which can eventually result in osteoporosis. The risk for this condition can be more with decaf coffee, as high metabolic acidity has been found to contribute to demineralization of bones. Lastly, decaffeinated coffee may also be associated with conditions like, glaucoma and rheumatoid arthritis. Moreover, if the process of decaffeination uses the solvent methylene chloride, then the beans can retain a very small amount of this chemical. The amount of methylene chloride in the beans is reduced to residual level, which can be considered to be safe according to the maximum allowable limit set by the FDA. But still, many health conscious people around the globe express their concerns about the presence of even a trace amount of methylene chloride in coffee beans, as this compound is suspected human carcinogen.

So, if you think that caffeine is the only compound in coffee that is harmful, then think again. If you are one of those trying to avoid coffee for an underlying health condition, then it is better to avoid this beverage altogether, rather than replacing it with the decaffeinated version. Other people should also cut down the amount of coffee, be it caffeinated and decaffeinated in order to lower the health risks associated with this beverage.