Coffee contains caffeine, which increases wakefulness, sometimes to the point of agitation if you are a heavy coffee drinker or get large amounts of caffeine from other sources. People who enjoy coffee's taste but dislike its physical effects try to get around the problem by drinking the decaf version. This solution is not entirely reliable because decaffeination does not remove all caffeine. If you are especially sensitive to caffeine, even decaf coffee may bother you.
Decaffeination Results
The decaffeination process removes most of the caffeine from coffee beans but does not always make them completely free of caffeine. The amount of the chemical is reduced significantly, although the exact caffeine content varies. For example, University of Florida researchers found that an average cup of brewed coffee contained 85 milligrams of caffeine, while decaffeinated brands varied between 8.6 and 13.9 milligrams. Only one brand tested in the 2006 study, which was published in the "Journal of Analytical Toxicology," was completely caffeine free.
Effects
Decaf coffee can make you agitated if you select a brand with some remaining caffeine and drink enough of it to deliver a sufficient amount of the drug. Coffee companies do not list the remaining caffeine content on their decaffeinated varieties, so you run the risk of ingesting some caffeine every time you drink decaf. The only way to minimize your chance of agitation and other caffeine-related effects is to limit yourself to a cup or two of decaf a day. Dr. Roland Griffiths of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine warns that sensitive people feel caffeine's effects after ingesting as little as 10 milligrams, so even a single cup may affect you.
Alternatives
There are caffeine-free alternatives to coffee. These coffee substitutes are typically made with other plants, herbs or grains. For example, coffee-like beverages are made with chicory or milk thistle seeds. Although regular tea contains caffeine, many herbal teas make good coffee substitutes because they are naturally free of the drug. Some herbs have physical effects, according to the American Pregnancy Association, so research herbal teas before selecting one. Decaffeinated tea, like decaf coffee, retains some of the chemical and can still agitate you if consumed in sufficient quantities.
Considerations
The minor caffeine content in some decaf coffees makes them a useful tool for weaning yourself off the drug. Immediately stopping your caffeine consumption triggers agitation as well as physical problems such as headaches or upset stomach that can persist more than a week. You can reduce or avoid the symptoms if you wean yourself off caffeine by gradually replacing your normal coffee with decaf and then a caffeine-free beverage, according to Johns Hopkins professor Roland Griffiths.
References
- Science Daily; Decaffeinated Coffee Is Not Caffeine-Free, Experts Say; October 2006
- MSNBC; Here's a Jolt, Decaf Coffee Contains Caffeine; October 2006
- MayoClinic.com; Caffeine: How Much is Too Much?; March 2011
- MedlinePlus; Milk Thistle; December 2010
- American Pregnancy Organization; Drinking Herbal Teas during Pregnancy; June 2011
- Johns Hopkins Medicine; Caffeine Withdrawal Recognized as a Disorder; Trent Stockton; September 2004
Member Comments