Decaffeinated Coffee: How Healthy Is It Really?

Decaffeinated coffee tastes like coffee, but doesn’t have the stimulating effects of caffeine. This makes it a good alternative for anyone who wants to have a coffee in the evening. But is decaffeinated coffee also healthy?

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in Germany. Some drink coffee precisely because of the effects of the caffeine, others appreciate its taste above all. If you don’t want the stimulating effect, decaffeinated coffee is a practical substitute for classic coffee. Apart from the caffeine content, it is no different from normal coffee.

Decaffeinated coffee: This is how coffee is made

For decaffeinated coffee, the unroasted coffee beans are placed in water or a mixture of water and organic solvents or steamed in it. Also special Activated carbon filter should be able to help remove the caffeine from the coffee.

Indeed: Decaffeinated coffee is also not completely caffeine-free. According to an EU regulation, decaffeinated coffee can contain up to 0.1 percent caffeine. Of the Consumer advice center Coffee drinks have the following average caffeine levels:

• Decaffeinated coffee: 3 mg of caffeine per 150 milliliters of coffee
• Regular coffee: 50 to 100 mg of caffeine per 150 milliliters of coffee
• cocoa: 2 to 8 mg of caffeine per 150 milliliters of cocoa

How healthy is decaffeinated coffee?

Much is now known about the physiological and health effects of normal coffee. The Federal Center for Nutrition (BZfE) summarizes:

• The caffeine in coffee wakes you up and can increase concentration. Too much caffeine can have side effects such as insomnia or Racing heart cause.
• From a health perspective, coffee has more positive effects. Coffee drinkers, for example, have less common cardiovascular diseases, Cirrhosis of the liver or Type 2 diabetes.

However, these study results have two weak points:

1. Many studies on coffee consumption are observational. Researchers observe a large number of people over a longer period of time and record their eating habits, lifestyle and health values. Such studies can show statistical relationships between certain eating habits and the frequency of certain diseases. But they do not provide causal connections.
2. As for the health effects of coffee, it’s hard to say to what extent they are actually due to the caffeine and not much more to other ingredients. Consequently, it is not possible to determine with absolute certainty which results can be transferred to decaffeinated coffee.

Few studies have looked at decaffeinated coffee or differentiated between regular and decaffeinated coffee. But these results already exist:

• A Observational study from the USA concludes that both regular and decaf coffee are the Protect the liver can.
• A Review from 2017 looks at various studies on the effects of coffee, including some studies examining decaffeinated coffee. Accordingly, the health effects of normal and decaffeinated coffee are comparable. Both hang out with one reduced Overall mortality rate, one reduced death rate owing to Cardiovascular diseases and one lower risk of type 2 diabetes together.
• The last result coincides with one Review from 2014.

If the caffeine isn’t working, then what?

So it can be said: whether coffee with or without caffeine – similarly positive results can be determined in both cases. So if caffeine isn’t responsible for this, what is it? The results of the studies suggest that coffee also contains other substances with positive health effects. According to BZfE, it is, among other things Antioxidants, such as Polyphenols.

Indeed one is coming study concluded that the antioxidant effects of decaffeinated coffee are almost as great as that of regular coffee. How you drink your coffee seems to be more decisive for the antioxidant effect: the amino acid methionine in milk is supposed to Inhibit the effect of antioxidants. From a health perspective, black coffee (with or without caffeine) is obviously better. However, a direct connection between the antioxidant effect and the above-described results from the observational studies cannot simply be established.

What are the benefits of decaffeinated coffee?

• According to the BZfE, decaf coffee is for people with sensitive stomach more suitable.
• Coffee with caffeine can cause it to Drug interactions and the caffeine come. Decaffeinated coffee can be an alternative in small quantities. But talk to your doctor beforehand, as decaffeinated coffee also contains small amounts of caffeine.
• Decaf coffee is also handy if you fancy coffee in the evening but still wanted to sleep peacefully at night.

What should you keep in mind about decaffeinated coffee?

Coffee contains harmful substances Acrylamidethat is produced when the coffee beans are roasted. According to the BZfE, the EU lowered the limit value for acrylamide in coffee in 2018 to a maximum of 400 micrograms per kilogram of coffee.

According to the BZfE, a few cups of coffee a day are considered harmless. However, gently roasted coffee is recommended because it is contains less acrylamide.

Decaffeinated coffee: what else is there to consider?

With or without caffeine: coffee is an exotic product that comes to us from far away. It is therefore better for the climate if you use domestic alternatives for decaffeinated coffee. You can get tips here: 9 regional coffee alternatives: Coffee substitutes made from grain.

If you want real coffee, please Fair trade coffee. This guarantees that the farmers receive a fair price for their coffee. In addition, Fairtrade is committed to better working conditions and environmental protection.

Read more on utopia.de:

• Sustainable coffee drinking: facts and tips about beans, filters and Co.
• Coffee during pregnancy and breastfeeding: the most important facts
• Instant coffee: How healthy and sustainable is the coffee substitute