Six Great Health Benefits of Decaf Coffee
Over the years, harsh and intrusive decaffeination methods have earned decaf coffee a bad press (excuse the pun), but the truth of the matter is, there are plenty of benefits of reaching for a bag of decaf when you brew your evening coffee.
And, with Swiss Water Decaffeination, coffee can be decaffeinated in a way that doesn’t interfere with the natural original taste – and doesn’t rely on harsh solvents. The result? A decaffeinated, smooth, true-to-origin cup of coffee, latte, americano, espresso, or whatever you choose to enjoy.
Whether you’re pregnant, low on sleep, or are simply keen to be kinder to your body, there are plenty of reasons why drinking decaf is a good call.
1. Decaf coffee can lower the risk of type 2 diabetes and some types of cancers
Coffee is like a liquid superfood, packed full of powerful antioxidants. It’s the single biggest source of antioxidants in the western diet. Around 79% of dietary antioxidants come from beverages in a typical western diet, compared to only 21% from food[i].
It contains polyphenols that can prevent heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes, and hydrocinnamic acids that effectively neutralise free radicals and prevent oxidative stress which can lead to long-term life-limiting diseases.
In 2017, The British Medical Journal[ii] published an article suggesting that the antioxidants in coffee can help reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer, skin cancer, liver cancer, leukaemia, endometrial cancer and oral cancer.
Furthermore, by switching to decaf, you can still benefit from all the superpowers of the coffee bean, without the caffeine buzz.
2. Decaf coffee can help you get more ZZZs
There’s a reason many of your friends, colleagues and neighbours wake up to a warm and invigorating cup of their favourite blend. Caffeine is a powerful stimulant. So powerful in fact, that it can wreak havoc on some people’s sleep patterns, whilst other people, quite literally, don’t bat an eyelid. Switching to decaffeinated coffee can help you maintain regular night-time sleep patterns, making you feel more refreshed and revitalised the next morning.
3. Decaf coffee can reduce the severity and regularity of acid reflux flare-ups
Fully caffeinated coffee can be quite acidic. That’s why we often add milk to neutralise some of the bitterness. Decaf coffee has a lower acidity level, making it a great solution for those coffee lovers who suffer chronic heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). By cutting down on the acidity in your diet, it’s possible to reduce the regularity and severity of flare-ups.
4. Decaffeinated drinks are kinder to your heart
Decaf coffee can reduce your risk of fatal heart diseases. Caffeine’s stimulating effect can exaggerate heart conditions, but by swapping to a decaf, coffee drinkers can enjoy the delicious taste of a full-bodied flat white, or the nutty tones of their favourite espresso, without risking their cardiovascular well-being.
5. Drink coffee all day, without overloading your caffeine
The FDA recommends adults consume no more than 400mg of caffeine a day[iii]. That means we really should stop sipping our smooth java on or around our 4th or 5th cup of the day.
For many of us here at Raw Bean, that probably means shortly after lunch. Far too early! By swapping to decaf for your afternoon pick-me-up, you can keep within FDA recommended guidelines, and avoid any unpleasant side effects that piggyback excessive caffeine consumption.
The great thing about switching to Raw Bean Definitely Decaf coffee is that you can change to a decaf, without compromising on any of the taste, because Swiss Water Decaffeination is cleverly designed to ensure none of the original flavour is lost during the decaffeination process.
6. Drink decaf to stay on the good side of your bladder
Excessive caffeine intake can make you need to pee.
All. The. Time.
And those with susceptible bladders, can’t always control when they need to go.
Ditching the caffeine and switching to decaf coffee cuts out the bladder irritant, enabling you to continue to enjoy the drink you love, without being caught short!
The list of other benefits attributed to a decaf swap is extensive, and includes reducing anxiety, losing weight, protecting the neurons in the brain, and easing inflammation and depression, but more about those later.
After all that, we're definitely in need of a decaf.
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[i] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/coffee-worlds-biggest-source-of-antioxidants#your-largest-source
[ii] https://www.bmj.com/content/359/bmj.j5024
[iii] Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much? | FDA