Coffee Are you nervous?
Caffeine According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it is unthreatening to drink up to 400 milligrams a dayFDA). This equates to about four or five cups of coffeeFor the average person, consuming larger amounts may cause side effects such as insomnia, anxiety, rapid heart rate, stomach upset, and nervousness.
However, other people may have a lower tolerance to caffeine or may be advised by their doctor to limit their caffeine intake, such as women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking certain medications, the FDA notes.
If you want to cut back on your caffeine intake for some reason, here’s what nutrition experts want you to know about decaf coffee Coffee.
How is decaffeinated coffee made?
There are four main ways that manufacturers decaffeinate coffee, according to the National Coffee Association. The most popular is the European method, which uses a compound called methylene chloride to bind to coffee beans and remove caffeine from them.
This method has recently proven controversial. In larger doses, methylene chloride is a liquid used to remove paint that can cause a number of health problems. Some health advocates have petitioned the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban the chemical. It was also recently reported that California lawmakers proposed a bill ban the employ of this compound in coffee statewide.
The Spotless Label Project, a nonprofit organization that advocates for transparency in food labeling, found that several popular coffee brands including Kirkland Signature, Kroger and Maxwell House. Other major brands, including Starbucks, Dunkin’, Tim Horton’s and Folgers, do not.
Does this mean you should not drink coffee containing traces of this compound?
“The dose matters” – dietician Miranda Galati tells USA TODAY.
While methylene chloride has raised concerns about possible carcinogenic effects in rodents at higher doses, the amount that remains in a cup of coffee contains “significantly less,” Galati notes. Most of the compound is removed during the decaffeination process, and the remaining amount — FDA was created less than 0.001 percent as OK — is miniature enough that it won’t have any real impact.
If you’re still concerned, Galati advises choosing another type of decaf coffee, such as “solvent-free varieties or those processed with Swiss Water,” or switching to tea instead.
“Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what you feel comfortable with,” he adds.
How much caffeine is too much? Here’s what you need to know before you reach for your next cup of coffee.
Is decaf coffee healthier?
Most dietitians will tell you that the term “healthiest” is subjective—people with different health goals or concerns may have completely different definitions of what is best for them.
“The healthiest foods in any category will depend on you, your budget, your culture, your health goals and many other factors,” Galati previously told USA TODAY.
Both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee offer similar health benefits, including links to vigorous liver enzyme levels and a reduced risk of colon cancer, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Caffeinated coffee can provide “unique benefits, including improved mood, alertness and athletic performance,” Galati says.
“But if it makes you nervous, anxious or disrupts your sleep, decaf is your best bet,” she adds. “Decaffeinated coffee offers many of the same benefits as regular coffee without the potential downsides of caffeine.”
More: Can Drinking Coffee and Tea Save Your Life? And More Studies You Need to Know About.
As Galati notes, decaf coffee also offers “health-boosting antioxidants and other phytochemicals that may protect against type 2 diabetes, cognitive decline, and some cancers.”
For people who experience physical or mental side effects from caffeine, Galati recommends decaffeinated coffee or herbal teas.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Is Decaf Coffee Made? And Is It Healthier Than Other Options?
