Coffee is one of the most popular beverages all over the world. In fact, there are already a number of coffee varieties sold in many countries. Coffee has captured the hearts of many people because of its appealing aroma and wonderful bittersweet taste. However, most coffees contain a substance called caffeine. Caffeine is considered a drug that is widely consumed around the world. It can cause significant effects to our body such as the increase of heart rate and as well as the enhancement of our alertness. Because of this, some people opt to drink decaffeinated coffee instead of the regular caffeinated variety. However, decaf coffee also contains a significant number of chemical compounds that can also cause strong side effects to the body. So what are the decaf coffee side effects?
Magnifying the Effects of Decaf Coffee
Decaf coffee contains substances or active constituents such as caffeol, diterpenes and chlorogenic acid. We all know that caffeinated coffee can cause a number of health disorders; however, even if our coffee is decaf, some of the mentioned active ingredients above still remain. These chemical compounds are also capable of causing serious health issues to our body. Because of this, drinking decaf coffee must also be limited.
There are several side effects that can be observed after regular drinking of decaffeinated coffee. The removal of the caffeine does not assure the coffee to be 100% free from all the other active constituents. In fact, the process of removing the caffeine does not guarantee the complete removal of the said ingredient. So what are the different side effects or reactions that we can expect after regular consumption of decaf coffee?
• Increase in Acidity – based on many research and experiments, coffee is considered to be acidic in nature. This can stimulate the gastric acids to activate and hyper-secrete in the stomach. However, when it comes to decaf coffee, studies reveal that it can even cause greater acidity to the body compared to the regular coffee. This is due to the fact that the decaffeinated coffee process is carried out from the Robusta beans, which is a type of coffee bean. And this particular coffee bean can cause increase acidity in the body. Because of this ulcers and acid reflux or GERD that can lead to heartburn are very common. This is considered to be one of the major negative side effects of drinking too much decaf coffee.
• Heart Problems – Heart problems are another side effect of regular decaf coffee consumption. One of the most popular heart problems associated to this drink is the heart attack. Drinking decaf coffee can actually increase the non-essential fatty acids in the blood up to 15%. Because of this, it drives the production of the LDL (low density lipoprotein) which is also recognized as the bad cholesterol. Aside from this, the level of the apolipoprotein b is also elevated up to 8%. This type of protein is associated with the cholesterol linked to many cardiovascular diseases. If the LDL in the blood increases, the risk for heart attacks and arrests also increases. This is considered to be one of the most fatal side effects of regular decaf coffee consumption. Yes, it may take a long time for decaf coffee to cause this, but the point here is that it can still put our health in jeopardy. High blood pressure is also possible upon the consumption of the decaffeinated coffee. Aside from the high acidity the Robusta beans can cause, it also contains high amounts of diterpenes. This can stimulate the production of bad fatty acids in the body, which can increase the cholesterol deposition in the blood and around the heart.
• Osteoporosis – Osteoporosis is possible in drinking decaf coffee because whenever we consume regularly this type of beverage, at least 5 milligrams of calcium in the body is lost. Because of this, the bone will become weaker, which can then develop to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a type of bone disease that usually affects the spinal column of the body. This is very common among elder women who are already at their menopausal stage. This particular health condition is due to the decreased density of the bone that can also be triggered by the other chemical compounds in the decaf coffee. The increase of acidity in the body can as well lead to osteoporosis. Aside from osteoporosis, decaf coffee drinking can also increase the risk for hip fractures.
• Other health problems – other health problems that can be caused by decaf coffee include rheumatoid arthritis, glaucoma, organ damage and even cancer.
These are just some of the possible side effects of too much drinking of decaf coffee. Most of us think that decaf coffee is already safe to drink due to the absence of caffeine. However, this type of coffee must also be taken in moderation since it can still cause many hazardous reactions to our health. If it’s possible, we can substitute coffee with fruit juices which are a lot healthier compared to coffee.
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