Does decaf coffee have the same health benefits as caffeinated?
Coffee drinking has been linked with short-term boosts to alertness and mood and, over the longer term, lower risk of heart disease, certain cancers, and other chronic conditions. “The evidence in coffee’s favor has never been stronger,” said Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Edward Giovannucci in a Jan. 11 Consumer Reports article that outlined the many health benefits associated with the drink.
But does it matter whether or not the coffee is caffeinated?
Giovannucci, a professor of epidemiology and nutrition, thinks it doesn’t. “Most of the metabolic effects are probably not related to caffeine,” he said. “A lot of the protective associations that we see in caffeinated coffee are also seen in decaf.”
The article noted that both caffeinated and decaffeinated contain polyphenols, which are thought to alter metabolism and improve gut health.
The article also offered several research-backed tips on healthy coffee drinking. It noted, for example, that unfiltered brewing methods have been linked to higher LDL (bad) cholesterol, and that coffee’s health benefits may diminish if consumed later than noon.
Read the Consumer Reports article: Is Coffee Good for You?
