The Nutrition Facts Of Folgers Coffee

Folgers coffee is a calorie-free stimulant and one of the many ground and roasted coffee bean beverages commonly consumed all over the world. Oregon State University says coffee is a complex mixture of many chemicals, including small amounts of carbohydrates, fats, amino acids, alkaloids and phenolic compounds. Folgers coffee comes in many varieties, from instant to gourmet, whole bean to ground, single-serve to full-pot and mild to dark-roasted blends. Consumption of all types of Folgers coffee may benefit your health in many ways.

Caffeine

The amount of caffeine in Folgers coffee depends on the variety, but on average a regular cup of coffee contains 9 to 150 mg of caffeine. Folgers coffee brewed in a drip coffee maker has approximately 115 to 175 mg of caffeine compared to 80 to 135 mg if made with other coffee makers. French roast contains 1.22 percent caffeine, while the decaf variety only contains .02 percent caffeine, according to Food Editorials.com. Caffeine is rapidly absorbed in the stomach and then distributed to all tissues, including the brain. Even moderate consumption of caffeine, in doses as low as 10 mg, can increase heart rate and cause agitation and anxiety in some people, says Roland Griffiths, Ph.D., on the website ScienceDaily.

Diabetes

Heavy coffee drinkers may be half as likely as light or non-drinkers to suffer from diabetes. Linus Pauling Institute reported that a high coffee intake might be associated with reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes. Research involving the Nurses' Health Study found that those who consumed six cups of coffee daily had a 35 percent lower risk of diabetes; those who consumed between four and six cups had a 28 percent lowered risk, compared to those who drank less than two cups daily. Men who consumed at least six cups of coffee daily had a 54 percent lower risk of developing diabetes than men who did not drink coffee.

The Heart

Coffee contains kahweol and cafestol, which are substances that raise cholesterol levels. Although paper filters capture these compounds, non-filtered coffee drinks, such as Folgers instant flavored coffee drinks, may increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. There may also be a link between cholesterol increases and decaffeinated coffee, such as Folgers decaffeinated varieties, warns Harvard Medical School. However, they report that results from long-term studies found that filtered coffee does not increase blood pressure as much as previously thought.

Adverse Effects

Caffeine is related to most of coffee's adverse effects, which may include heart palpitations, nervousness, insomnia, restlessness, nausea, headache, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea and increased urination. Caffeine withdrawal symptoms may result if you are a long-term coffee drinker who stops consumption suddenly. Symptoms reported include headache, fatigue, irritability and difficulty concentrating or mood swings. Linus Pauling Institute recommends gradual withdrawal from caffeine to avoid these effects. Some drugs interact with caffeine causing an inhibited effect of the medication or interfering with metabolism.

Considerations

Folgers regular brewed coffee contains no calories and no fat, cholesterol, sodium or protein and lacks in nutritional value, according to the MyFitnessPal website. Some of the Folgers coffee blends, such as Gourmet Supreme and Classic Roast, contain as many as 8 calories but no other nutrients. Folgers flavored coffees, such as French Vanilla, contain 20 calories and 60 mg of sodium in addition to 1 g of protein per 10 oz. If you add sugar and milk or cream to your coffee, you will add calories but obtain some benefits, such as calcium, from the milk. By using fat-free or low-fat milk and sugar-free flavorings, you can save calories and still benefit from the added nutrition.