What are the side effects of decaffeinated coffee?

This is an often asked question:

Are there any side effects of drinking decaf coffee?

Yes, there can be some side effects of drinking decaf coffee. Generally, the side effects of drinking decaf coffee are positive, but there can also be less positive side effects as well. 

In this article, we go through the positive and negative side effects of decaffeinated coffee:

What are the positive side effects of decaffeinated coffee?

Decaffeinated Coffee Can Offer A Potentially Lowered Risk Of Diabetes

Decaffeinated coffee is rich in antioxidants. They can cause a neutralizing effect where they give up their own electrons and this reduces oxidative stress in the body and can help prevents risks of acquiring Type 2 diabetes. 

Besides an abundance of antioxidants, decaf coffee also contains a significant amount of magnesium, which can act as a barrier against diabetes.

Decaf Coffee Can Detoxify The Body

Decaffeinated coffee contains high levels of Vitamin B-3, which boosts the body’s metabolism. This stops the production of fat and helps cleanse the body by eradicating free radicals and foreign materials from it.

Decaf Coffee Can Improve Brain Function

Improved brain functions are one of the several benefits that decaf coffee brings to the table. It includes polyphenol compounds that are best known for boosting a person’s cognitive capabilities. This results in enhanced concentration and long-term memory. Additionally, polyphenols are a remarkable tool for battling the early stages of dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Heart Health

Decaffeinated coffee may have a beneficial effect on heart health as Some studies suggest that decaf coffee can improve vascular function and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. This is partly due to its antioxidant content and the presence of compounds that can have a positive effect on blood vessels.

Reduced Risk of Certain Cancers

There's possible evidence pointing to the antioxidants in decaffeinated coffee that may lower the risk of certain types of cancer, such as colorectal cancer, which is thought to arise from the coffee's ability to prevent the formation of potentially cancerous cells.

Decaffeinated Coffee Can Reduce Caffeine Sensitivity

By drinking decaffeinated coffee, instead of regular caffeinated coffee, all the adverse side effects of regular coffee, namely insomnia, high blood pressure, restlessness, anxiety, or palpitations, can be avoided with decaf coffee.

Deaf Coffee Can Aid Better Quality Sleep

Did you know that the half-life of caffeine is five hours? That means that caffeine remains in the bloodstream for a lot longer than we realise. Caffeine can result in hyperactivity which can often be so powerful that it disturbs your sleep patterns, keeping you awake for longer than you would like.

With decaffeinated coffee, particularly if you drink decaffeinated coffee in the afternoon instead of regular coffee, it can also help you catch up on the amount of sleep you had to forego because of regular coffee. 

Management of Liver Health

Regular consumption of decaf coffee has been linked to improved liver enzyme levels, suggesting a protective effect on liver health, which can contribute to a lower risk of liver diseases including fibrosis and cirrhosis.

To find out more about decaffeinated coffee's health benefit, please visit our page on this called 'What are the health benefits of decaffeinated coffee?'

Less Positive Side Effects Of Decaffeinated Coffee

Decaf Coffee Can Be Associated With Higher Rates of Rheumatoid Arthritis

This is still a matter of debate and requires more research, but some recent research points to decaffeinated coffee being positively related to the risks of rheumatoid arthritis.

The prime reason behind this is the solvents used to decaf the beans for some decaffeination processes.

Please note that Decadent Decaf uses the Swiss Water Process of decaffeination, which does not use solvents to decaffeinate the coffee beans - only water.

Lower Mineral Absorption

While not unique to decaf coffee, both regular and decaffeinated coffee can inhibit the absorption of certain minerals, such as iron and calcium, if consumed in large amounts. This is due to the presence of compounds like tannins and chlorogenic acid.

Decaffeinated Coffee Can Increase Stomach Acidity

When compared to regular coffee, decaf coffee is less acidic on the pH scale. However, if consumed in large quantities, it can result in a higher concentration of serum gastrin in your stomach.

This opens the banks of stomach acid to be released in your body. When this goes beyond a normal levels, it can cause spike in stomach acidity.

Potential for Chemical Contaminants

Although the Swiss Water Process eliminates the use of chemical solvents, it's worth noting that not all decaf coffees are created through this method. Those not using water-based or carbon dioxide methods may still have trace amounts of chemical solvents. While these levels are typically within safe limits set by health regulations, some consumers might be concerned about long-term exposure.

Decaffeinated Coffee May Or May Not Have Diuretic Properties

In simple terms, coffee can make you pee more. Coffee with caffeine is seen as being a diuretic, meaning that it promotes the formation of urine by the kidney.But, actually, caffeine is not a strong diuretic - it's a fairly mild diuretic.

For many years, it was believed that decaffeinated coffee was also a diuretic, but more recently, scientists now believe that decaffeinated coffee is not a diuretic. To find out more, please visit our page on this called 'Is decaffeinated coffee a diuretic?'

Psychological Effects

For some individuals, the ritual of drinking coffee, whether decaf or regular, can trigger psychological responses, including a placebo effect where one might feel more alert despite the low caffeine content. Conversely, some people may miss the psychological "boost" that they associate with caffeine, potentially affecting their mood or energy levels.

Decaf Coffee May Or May Not Keep You Awake

Some people assert that decaffeinated coffee keeps you awake. It is true that there is some residual caffeine left after the decaffeination process, but this is miniscule.

Decaffeinated coffee is between 97% and 99.9% caffeine free depending on the decaffeination process. For example, Swiss Water Decaf coffee is certified 99.9% caffeine free. To find out more, please visit our page on this called 'Will decaffeinated coffee keep me awake?'.

IMPORTANT: This information is intended to support, not replace, discussion with your doctor or healthcare professionals. Nothing in the content or products should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should always talk to your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment, including your specific medical needs.