Are there real health benefits to drinking decaf? There are many studies published that say there are definite and measurable benefits, so we took at a look at one of the more prominent pieces of research. Studies conducted by Dr. Giulio Maria Pasinetti, professor of neurology and psychiatry at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City concentrated on how decaf coffee could potentially be used to treat or even prevent mental decline.
Coffee beans contain a number
of different substances that contribute to its taste and aroma, some of
which his team tested to determine if there were any identifiable
positive health benefits. Caffeic acid, a phenol based chemical, has in
particular been found to contain elements that have both anti-oxidant
and anti-carcinogenic properties. Coffee also contains a substance
called chlorogenic acid, which has already been proven to help minimise
glucose production in the liver, which in turn prevents hyperglycemic
peak after ingesting food and drinks with high sugar content.
So
if coffee contains all of these positive elements, why is decaf the
preferred healthy option? It’s simply because the caffeine present in
coffee still poses a small potential risk of triggering heart diseases.
Once removed, the full health benefits of coffee become more viable. Dr
Pasinetti’s study also revealed that decaffeinated coffee can enhance
the metabolism of sugar and help convert it to energy. This is
particularly interesting because type 2 diabetes can lead to mental
decline due to reduced sugar metabolism in the brain. Therefore, there
is a strong and well published link between decaf coffee and the
prevention of mental decline caused by diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.
To be clear, the health benefits go beyond the absence of
caffeine in decaf. The actual decaffeination process itself leaves
behind a substance called cafestrol, which has been shown to enhance the
body’s production of bile acid, as well as having anti inflammatory
properties that are particularly beneficial to the brain. The process of
decaffeination, however, does not reduce the level of antioxidants
present in coffee.
So there are very few reasons to avoid decaf
unless you particularly need it to kick start your day or keep you awake
on a long drive. If you’re drinking coffee purely for the taste, then
it’s definitely worth considering. Gone are the days when decaf had a
nasty aftertaste or was viewed as somehow inferior to standard coffee.
Sure, it’s a little more expensive, but this is simply due to the cost
of processing it.
In summary, Dr Pasinetti’s studies confirmed the findings from many other similar pieces of work, namely:
The anti-oxidant properties of decaf coffee can protect the cells from damage that can lead to diabetes. The decaf process doesn’t remove the chlorogenic acid content which is responsible for regulating blood glucose levels.
Decaffeinate coffee still contains high levels of the anti-oxidants that can prevent conditions associated with both the aging process and a number of cancers. A number of studies agree that regular drinkers of decaf display a reduced risk of developing colon cancer. For women, there is also a corresponding reduction in the risk of breast cancer.
As mentioned, caffeine has been linked to number of heart conditions including irregular palpitations, heart attacks and strokes. The removal of the caffeine (without reducing the levels of antioxidants) can help reduce the risk of developing a wide variety of heart conditions.