Many people start their day off with a cup of coffee, and some of that coffee is decaffeinated. Decaf coffee offers a tasty alternative to the jitters and heart palpitations associated with caffeine. This beverage does not offer a great deal of nutritional value, although it does contain some vitamins and minerals that are good for your health.
Calories
A 6-oz. serving of decaffeinated coffee contains no calories. Common additions to decaf coffee -- such as sugar, milk and cream -- add calories, however. A 1-tsp. serving of granulated sugar contains 16 calories, and it also promotes tooth decay. Mixing in 1 oz. of whole milk contributes 19 calories, and 1 oz. of half and half cream adds 39 calories.
Macronutrients
Decaf coffee provides no fat or carbohydrates, but one serving of this beverage does introduce 0.1 g of protein into your diet. This does not contribute a great deal of macronutrients to your meal plan -- you require 225 to 325 g of carbs per day; you also need 46 to 56 g of protein. Anything you add to your decaf coffee may add fat, protein and carbohydrates.
Potassium
One serving of decaffeinated coffee provides 3 percent of the daily recommended intake of potassium. The potassium in coffee plays a role in moderating your blood pressure. A study published in the February 2011 issue of "Nutrition Practice and Research" observed 544 Korean adults over the age of 19 and found potassium intake controls hypertension. Potassium present in coffee may also help replenish minerals lost during exercise.
Other Vitamins and Minerals
Drink a serving of decaf coffee, and you consume 2 percent of the niacin you need as well as the same quantity of manganese and magnesium. This makes decaffeinated coffee good for keeping your skin, bones and nerves healthy, and it helps you use calcium. You also take in 1 percent of the suggested intake of copper, which is important for your immune system.
Sodium
Decaffeinated coffee is low in sodium, containing only 4 mg per serving. This small amount does not use up much of the limit of 1,500 mg advised by the American Heart Association. Providing the sodium in the remainder of your diet is not high, it can help your body to work at optimal levels -- you need 180 to 500 mg of sodium each day.
Fatty Acids
One serving of decaf coffee provides 3.6 mg of omega-6 fatty acids. The American Heart Association recommends consuming 12 to 22 g of these fatty acids. Evidence in the August 2010 edition of "Neuroscience Letters" indicates that adequate intake of this essential fatty acid protects cognitive function in animal studies. More studies are needed to determine if this finding applies to human subjects.
Caffeine
Despite being called decaffeinated, decaf coffee does contain some caffeine -- 1.8 mg. Unless you have a severe sensitivity to caffeine, this quantity should not negatively affect your health. An ideal limit is 200 to 300 mg of caffeine per day.
References
- USDA National Nutrient Database: Coffee, Brewed From Grounds, Prepared With Tap Water, Decaffeinated
- USDA National Nutrient Database: Sugars, Granulated
- USDA National Nutrient Database: Milk, Whole, 3.25% Milkfat, With Added Vitamin D
- USDA National Nutrient Database: Cream, Fluid, Half and Half
- MayoClinic.com; Healthy Diet: End the Guesswork With These Nutrition Guidelines; February 2011
- Colorado State University Extension; Potassium and Health; J. Anderson, et al.; August 2008
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