Why Risk Your Heart For a Decaf?
Decaffeinated coffee could increase risk factors for
cardiovascular disease.
A study showed that decaffeinated coffee increased LDL ("bad")
cholesterol. It may have done so by increasing levels of
apolipoprotein B, which is associated with LDL cholesterol.
Measured for Many Factors
Almost 200 participants were divided into groups given either
three to six cups of regular coffee each day, the same of decaf
per day, or no coffee at all, for a period of three months. Then
the levels of caffeine in their blood were measured, along with
a number of other factors including blood pressure, heart rate,
body mass index, triglycerides, HDL and LDL cholesterol,
insulin, glucose, fat present in the blood stream, and
apolipoprotein B.
Increase in LDL and Blood Fat
At the study's end, the decaf group showed an 8 percent rise in
fatty acids, and an 8 to 10 percent rise in LDL levels.
Bloodstream fat also increased in the decaf group, by an average
of 18 percent.
Different Beans
The difference could be caused by a difference in the types of
beans used rather than the decaffeination process. Because
decaffeination can strip the coffee of flavor, a flavorful bean
called Robusta is often used to make it; regular coffee is
usually made from the mellower Arabica beans.
Coffee drinkers in the United States consume an average of 3.1
cups of coffee a day.
Yahoo News November 16, 2005Forbes.com November 16, 2005
Dr. Mercola's Comment:Earlier this month Iposted a blog item
onhow soft drinks, but not coffee, elevate your blood pressure.
But it seems coffee, or at least decaf, isn't trouble-free after
all.
Interestingly, the lead researcher used the term dose as an
important consideration about drinking coffee, particularly
because his study patients drank as much as six cups a day.
Although coffee is certainly a better alternative than fruit
juices or soft drinks, it's not nearly as healthy for you as
drinking pure water.
Drinking coffee may interfere with your body's ability to keep
homocysteine and cholesterol levels in check, most likely by
inhibiting the action of the vitamins folate, B12 or B6.
Coffee has also been previously associated with an increased
risk of stroke and rheumatoid arthritis. And studies have shown
that caffeine in coffee can raise blood pressure and levels of
stress hormones, and if consumed in large quantities it can lead
to heart palpitations, jitters and nervousness.
It is also imperative that you avoid any coffee if you are
pregnant.
So if you have the coffee habit it is time to consider stopping.
However, please avoid the mistake that most people make when
deciding to eliminate coffee from their diet. Caffeine is a drug
and if you go off cold turkey you will needlessly suffer.
I recommend weaning yourself off coffee (or regular soda for
similar reasons) by cutting down the amount you drink gradually
over a period of days or even weeks. It's important to drink
plenty of water during the process in order to keep your body
well hydrated.
While you're doing that, here are some tips to reduce the chance
of harmful effects until you can completely eliminate
it:- Use organic coffee. Coffee is a heavily sprayed crop,
so drinking organic coffee might reduce or eliminate your
exposure to toxic herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers. It
will also help the people working in the coffee fields, as they
will be exposed to fewer pesticides as well.
- Try "Swiss
Water Process" decaf. If you are going to drink decaffeinated
coffee, be sure that it uses a non-chemical based method of
decaffeination. The "Swiss Water Process" is a patented method
and is the best choice. Most of the major brands are chemically
decaffeinated, even if it says "naturally decaffeinated" right
on the container. If you are unsure of the methods, contact the
manufacturer.
- Avoid sugar and milk. These are actually much
worse for you than the coffee itself. Don't compound the
detrimental health effects by adding milk or sugar to your
coffee.
- Only use unbleached filters. If you use a "drip"
coffee maker, be sure to use non-bleached filters. The bright
white ones, which most people use, are chlorine bleached and
some of this chlorine will be extracted from the filter during
the brewing process.