Coffee is a staple drink of many. Its scintillating aroma and intense flavor are what you need to kick your mood. Although it is excellent for health, the high caffeine content in it is a discouraging factor. If you wish to enjoy the benefits of coffee sans caffeine, then try out decaf coffee. Here, have a look at the benefits of decaf coffee and know why it is a healthy beverage for you.
Decaf coffee or decaffeinated coffee is coffee made from coffee beans whose about 97% of caffeine content has been removed.
The vast array of benefits of decaf coffee are due to its fantastic nutrient composition. Decaffeinated coffee is rich in antioxidants. Besides, it also contains some amounts of essential nutrients like Vitamin B3, niacin, potassium, magnesium, iron, phosphorous and calcium(1).
Similar to caffeinated coffee, the benefits of decaf coffee are also vast. Below mentioned are some of its significant benefits that you must know.
Decaf coffee is known to boost your cardiovascular health. It is because it improves the endothelial function that regulates blood flow vasoconstriction and vasodilation, i.e., it ensures an adequate amount of oxygen and nutrient supply throughout the body via blood. Thus, relieving the heart of any stress and preventing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
The benefits of decaf coffee include reduced risk to diabetes. It is because some of its components like chlorogenic acid and lignans boost glucose metabolism, thus regulating the amount of glucose present in the body.
Further, these also play a crucial role in lessening the oxidative stress in the body by killing the free radicals which result in diabetes. Magnesium present in decaf coffee is also known to decrease the risk of diabetes.
Decaf coffee is known to protect the neurons. Thus, the consumption of it can prevent mental decline with age and the development of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
Consumption of organic decaf coffee is good for the health of your liver too. Studies have found that the oils present in the coffee like kahweol and cafestol exhibit protective effects against aflatoxin, a toxin that harms the liver.
These oils promote the production of glutathione, an antioxidant which is known to boost the liver function and stimulate detoxification of the body. Thus, the benefits of coffee include a healthy liver.
There are four methods of decaffeinating coffee:
Here is how you can enjoy a cup of decaf coffee.
Decaf coffee is excellent for those who wish to curb their caffeine intake. However, it also poses some health hazards. Some of the side-effects of it are:
Decaf coffee is flavorsome, aromatic and nutrient-rich like the regular coffee. The only difference between them is that it is not high on caffeine like your favorite coffee. Though it may lose some nutrients during the caffeine extraction process, it is still quite potent and good for your health. The benefits of decaf coffee are vast; hence, you can switch to it instead of drinking caffeinated coffee.
No, decaf coffee is not entirely caffeine free. However, the amount of caffeine in decaf coffee is generally minimal.
One should limit the consumption of decaf coffee during pregnancy to one to two cups.
The best process for extracting caffeine from the coffee beans is the carbon dioxide method as it involves no chemicals and removes most of the caffeine content.