Common Health Questions about Drinking Coffee

May 30th, 2010 Posted in Coffee and Health | No Comments »

Drinking coffee is  very common for most people  and has become almost a national pastime since it punctuates many important events such as dinners, banquets, socials, and home gatherings.  Whole businesses  base their income  around this product  such as coffee houses, delis, bars and donut shops. Manufacturers  would be lost without coffee beans to  add to its many products   that include not only the hot beverage, but injected into other edible products such as pies, cakes, ice cream, energy drinks and smoothies. There is a long list of products  that use some form of the coffee bean to enhance, flavor and provide a shot of caffeine to eager consumers .

The use of coffee has continued to rise among consumers and there are many health issues that concern users regarding the use and/or abuse of the product . There are conflicting statements  made by researchers all the time about issues related to coffee and health.  It’s true that coffee is a powerful marketing product  because it is popular  among people worldwide . Obviously, it is here to stay . But what about the many health issues associated with its use ? Here are a some  important questions and a few answers provided by coffee experts that can provide you with some information before deciding whether or not to continue using coffee in any form.

Q:  Are coffee beans chemically free?

A: It is undeniable that many chemicals are used to process  many coffee flavors . Companies use propylene glycol to flavor beans after roasting . This chemical is necessary to inject a variety of   flavors in to the beans. If you want to drink coffee or use coffee products without chemicals, you’d  best stick with organic coffee beans and do your own grinding and blending.

Q: Does decaffeinated coffee still retain some caffeine?

A: Yes, generally all decaffeinated coffee still  has some caffeine although most is taken out through processing . Normally, between 97% to 99% of decaf coffee is without caffeine . This is one of the issues that coffee drinkers tend to be concerned about when they consider the possible relationship between coffee and health.

Q:  Is decaf coffee exposed to any chemicals during processing?

A: Yes, a solvent called methylene chloride is added to take away most of the caffeine. Another method is to wash away the caffeine with charcoal and water . There is some concern about whether or not the solvent is completely removed before packaging or if some residue will be consumed by consumers.  Using the Swiss method of removing caffeine, by passing it through water and charcoal, can ease some concerns about chemicals. Obviously, you will lose some flavor during the decaffeination methods.  If you want to avoid chemicals completely, you can try an organic, green coffee bean that has not been treated and that will give you as close to the taste of a ‘real’ cup of coffee as you will find, but with very little caffeine. It is also a bit more expensive .

Q:  If you have stomach problems, can you make low acid coffee to drink?

A: Yes, if you suffer from problems like acid reflux, you can purchase some ‘low acid’ coffees, but there is a method called Toddy Cold Brew System that purports to brew coffee with over 60% less acid than typical coffee. You can brew the coffee yourself so that it tastes much better .

Q: Can heart attacks be caused by drinking coffee?

A: There are many medical opinions on this subject and might be wise to listen to the general warning that drinking too much coffee is not good  for you since it can cause general anxiety symptoms to worsen which push the heart rate to elevate at times . That being said,  recent research also shows that coffee drinking in moderation can actually be good for heart health.

Obviously, coffee in its many forms will continue to be a  part of our global culture. As with any beverage  or food, it’s wise to consume it in moderation thereby not giving up one of life’s simple pleasures.

Is Drinking Coffee Healthy?

May 21st, 2010 Posted in Coffee and Health | No Comments »

Are you  perhaps the kind of person who just has to have your morning cup of java before you can get started on your day? If so, you’ve probably thought about the possible health consequences of consuming caffeine. It may even cross your mind every time you pour yourself a cup.

Flavored coffee tastes fantastic and it provides some definite gains to those who drink it, including considerable boosts in energy. And you’ll find hundreds of millions of people around the world who just wouldn’t want to live without it.
Studies have shown that drinking reasonable amounts of espresso can make a person feel more aware and focused, leading to increased productivity. In case you really feel your self lagging behind at work, you may benefit from consuming a cup of coffee.

It really is clear that flavored coffee can give us a mental boost, but sadly it is also unclear whether it has a positive effect, a negative influence, or no influence at all on physical health. Espresso drinkers are likely to insist that it really is a harmless and innocent beverage, but others say that it can bring about a variety of complications. Some research has shown that coffee does play a part in raising blood pressure levels when consumed regularly. It also increases heart rate, and these two results together can frighten quite a few folks into avoiding java.

On the other hand, the same research points out that to experience such negative results from coffee an individual would have to consume large amounts over a long period of time. A cup a day, or anything in that range, probably won’t cause any health troubles.

It seems that anti-oxidants are coming up more frequently when individuals discuss the health ramifications of caffeine. Some recent studies have shown that coffee beans contain anti-oxidants which can aid the human body in the fight against diseases like cancer by lowering the individual’s risk of contracting the illness. It really is not hard to believe that java could contain some helpful compounds as it is made from all-natural beans. We’ve known for awhile that red wine has similar positive health aspects.

Whatever your beliefs on java, it is nevertheless essential to consume it in moderation, as with any food or beverage. Even if one thing hasn’t been definitively proven to be unhealthy, it is nevertheless easy to overindulge and have too much of a good thing. Always be careful with stimulants like coffee especially as you grow older.

For additional coffee facts about flavored coffee and health go to the how to make coffee site where you’ll get the latest facts on flavored coffee brewing, flavored coffee health and get all you need to know to start drinking healthy gourmet coffee.