Over 50,000 Americans drink coffee every day, many of them consuming multiple cups, according to CBS News. The buzz may help you get through the day and keep you alert; however, the caffeine in that coffee can have deleterious effects on your health. Many physicians recommend switching to decaffeinated coffee, however decaf coffee can also negatively impact your health.
Heart Palpitations
Decaffeinated coffee still contains caffeine. While 97 percent of the caffeine is removed during processing, approximately 5 mg of caffeine remains in a 6 oz. serving, which is far less than the typical caffeine amount in coffee -- 100 to 150 mg per 6 oz. -- but those with caffeine sensitivities may experience the effects of this caffeine, states PreventDisease.com. Caffeine may cause heart palpitations, a condition that presents with the feeling of an irregular heartbeat or uneasiness in your chest. If your body reacts to small amounts of caffeine, drinking decaffeinated coffee may not be recommended. Repeated heart palpitations may put you at greater risk of experiencing a stroke due to blood clots that can form from atrial fibrillation, a heart problem caused by heart palpitations.
Heartburn
Including decaffeinated coffee in your meal plan may result in heartburn. Today Health notes that decaf coffee can kick up the amount of stomach acid in your body and influence the esophageal sphincter, the band of muscle at the bottom of your esophagus that stops stomach acid from backing up into that tube. If you do drink decaffeinated coffee and have a tendency to experience heartburn, it may help to avoid laying down for several hours after consuming the coffee. Chronic heartburn can increase your risk of sleep problems, coughs, asthma and esophageal cancer.
High Cholesterol
Cholesterol, a waxy substance found in your body, may clog your arteries and put you at risk of heart disease and heart attacks. Research from the Baylor College of Medicine in the July 2007 issue of the journal "Molecular Endocrinology" indicates that cafestol, a substance in coffee, interrupts a receptor that regulates cholesterol. Dr. David Moore, professor of molecular and cellular biology at Baylor College of Medicine, and Dr. Marie-Louise Ricketts, a report author and postdoctoral student, note that cafestol elevates blood cholesterol levels more than any other known compound. Removing the caffeine from coffee does not remove the cafestol.
References
- CBS News: Caffeine Nation
- PreventDisease.com: Is It True What They Say About Decaf?
- University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics: Heart Palpitations: Frequently Asked Questions
- Today Health: Water good, coffee bad? Ain't necessarily so
- Go Ask Alice!: Eating Tips When Heartburn Hits
- Gastroenterology of the Rockies: GERD: The Dangers of Chronic Heartburn
Member Comments