Many coffee lovers would not like to switch to decaffeinated coffee over regular coffee. However, considering the health benefits of Decaf over regular coffee certainly permits giving decaf one chance.
Undoubtedly, decaf coffee lets you enjoy a cup of satisfaction without causing any side effects that may occur in caffeinated coffee.
One most discussed question about coffee is, is decaf coffee a diuretic?
A diuretic is a substance, any drink, medication, or food that makes kidneys form urine. Whenever you drink regular coffee, you feel the urge to use the restroom. This is something most of us notice. Is it the same with decaf coffee?
Just like how two people aren’t the same, decaf coffee and regular coffee will have different effects on everyone. If you have been looking for the answers to the diuretic effects of decaf coffee, you may want to read our further findings.
Is Decaf Coffee A Diuretic?
Though having some traces of caffeine in decaf coffee, it is not a diuretic. It does not have sufficient caffeine to cause kidneys to form urine. Caffeine is responsible for the diuretic effects of coffee, and if you remove 97% of the caffeine from the coffee bean, it will lose its impact. The diuretic effect of decaf coffee is similar to water.
Regular Coffee Vs. Decaf Coffee
The choice of coffee varies from person to person. Some people enjoy coffee due to its caffeine content, whereas others switch to decaffeinated coffee to look for healthier options.
Regular coffee vs. Decaf Coffee, what’s the difference?
Decaf and Regular coffee differ in terms of their caffeine content, pH levels, taste, the quantum of antioxidants, and many more.
Caffeine Content In Your Coffee
“Decaf,” if you go by the name, would suggest a caffeine-free coffee.
But the truth is, decaf coffee contains about 1-2 percent of the original caffeine. Many studies propose that 10 cups of decaffeinated coffee contain about 10mg of caffeine.
In contrast, a single cup of regular coffee contains 85 mg of caffeine content.
pH Levels In Your Coffee
Decaf coffee is more acidic in nature. That’s because the pH level and taste of decaf coffee go through radical changes during the soaking process. That results in more acidity in the coffee.
The pH level of decaf coffee is flat at 5, and regular coffee has an average pH level of 4-4.5. Substances with less than 7 pH levels are considered to be acidic. Therefore, decaf coffee is more acidic than regular coffee.
Antioxidants In Coffee
Regular coffee contains more antioxidants, which are beneficial for your health.
Decaffeinated coffee, too, makes an excellent antioxidant, just like regular coffee. However, decaf coffee loses its antioxidants during the roasting process.
Decaf coffee has 15 percent fewer antioxidants than regular coffee.
Coffee Taste
To reduce caffeine levels, decaf coffee goes through a chemical extraction process.
The process removes all the properties of caffeine beans, such as flavor and aroma. The taste becomes flat and watery.
If you are a regular coffee drinker, you might not like the taste of decaf coffee. Regular coffee retains the original taste of the coffee bean with all its flavor and aroma intact.
Hydration Levels
If your caffeine intake is below 300 mg, it will not impact your body’s hydration level. However, anything above that can result in water loss. It can lead to dehydration.
In comparison to regular coffee, decaf coffee does not dehydrate even after multiple cups. It’s great for you if you switch to decaf coffee during summer to maintain water levels in your body.
Stimulation
Why do you demand a cup of coffee in the morning?
The reason is that caffeine helps you to get rid of sleep and induce energy. That is why when you drink regular coffee at night, it keeps you wide awake.
On the other hand, decaf coffee does not contain enough caffeine to leave you wide awake or induce you with a sudden burst of energy. Therefore, decaf coffee is the best option if you want to have coffee as a usual beverage.
Effects On Fertility
Excess consumption of caffeine can reduce fertility.
That’s why doctors recommend reducing caffeine intake during pregnancy. You can drink regular coffee but with precaution.
In the case of decaf coffee, it is safe to drink during pregnancy as it does not directly impact fertility. With advanced decaffeination, the level of caffeine is reduced to 99 percent, which is relatively safe for pregnant women.
How Is Decaf Coffee Made?
Decaffeination is a process that involves the removal of caffeine content from tea leaves, cocoa, coffee beans, and other caffeine substances. There are several methods to make decaffeinated coffee; a few of them are listed below.
Direct Method
The direct method of decaffeination includes the use of chemicals. The solvents, including ethyl acetate, methylene chloride, and dichloromethane, are used to extract caffeine while first steaming the unroasted green beans.
Indirect Method
The indirect method involves the soaking of coffee beans in hot water. After that, to extract the caffeine, the beans are removed, and solvents are added to the remaining liquid. This way, the caffeine is removed via evaporation while retaining its flavor.
Triglyceride Process
In this process, the fresh green coffee beans are first soaked in a mixed solution of coffee and hot water that will bring the caffeine to the exterior of the beans.
They are then transferred and soaked in coffee oils extracted from coffee grounds at high temperatures for an extended period. This process is also known as the direct contact of decaffeination, where the coffee retains its taste.
Swiss Water Process
The Swiss Water Process does not involve the use of organic solvents. Here, the Green Coffee Extract solution is obtained, containing water-soluble components of green coffee without caffeine.
The solution is obtained when green beans are soaked in hot water and then filtered via a charcoal filter, where most of the caffeine molecules are removed. The water-soluble components of green coffee infuse with a GCE solution where only caffeine molecules can transfer to the GCE solution.
In the last step, the solution is passed through the charcoal filter repeatedly to achieve the desired result.
Liquid CO2 Process
In this process, liquid carbon dioxide is used to dissolve the caffeine in the coffee bean and water mixture. Like the Swiss water process, it does not make use of harmful chemicals.
Health Benefits Of Decaf Coffee
Decaf Coffee is right for your health in comparison to regular coffee. That is because it provides several health benefits, which are not possible with regular coffee.
Containing beneficial nutrients such as niacin, potassium, and magnesium, decaf coffee is beneficial for health in more than one way. Let us discuss how.
Reduce The Risk Of Premature Death, And Type 2 Diabetes
Drinking both Decaf and regular coffee reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes. One daily cup of coffee can reduce the risk by 7 percent.
In a recent study, it has been found that decaf consumption reduces the risk of premature death, although by a small margin. People consuming decaf coffee have no or marginal history of cardiovascular disease or stroke.
Protection Against Degenerative Diseases
Decaf coffee has a progressive effect on age-associated neural disorders. It can reduce the risk of degenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
Reduced Risk Of Rectal Cancer And Symptoms Of Heartburn
One side effect of drinking caffeinated coffee is acid reflux and heartburn. However, decaf coffee can relieve people from this side effect. Decaf coffee causes less acid reflux in comparison to regular coffee.
Also, drinking more than two cups of decaf coffee is linked to reducing the risk of rectal cancer by 48 percent.
Reduce Calorie Count And Helps In Weight Loss
Generally, in an 8-ounce serving, decaf coffee does not contain any calories. So, it helps to build up a calorie deficit with time. And eventually, it will result in weight loss.
Drinking one cup of decaf coffee five days a week for one year can result in 8-pounds of weight loss.
Protects Liver
Among its other benefits on different parts of your body, it also protects your liver from liver enzymes. People drinking decaf coffee have low levels of liver enzymes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions on the subject.
Does Decaf Coffee Hydrate You?
Decaffeinated coffee can fulfill your hydration needs to some extent. It is recommended to drink decaf coffee, especially during summer, as it does not lead to water loss from the body.
Decaf coffee can contribute to daily fluid intake, but it may not be sufficient to quench your thirst. The tannins are responsible for the bitter taste and dark color of your coffee, which causes the taste bud to pucker up and feel dry.
Does Decaf Coffee Make You Pee A Lot?
Whether you are drinking regular coffee or decaf coffee, it will make you pee. It also depends on the amount of liquid you have consumed. Though Decaf is not a diuretic, it is a liquid that goes through our body and leaves as urine.
Is Decaf Coffee A Laxative?
Caffeine is believed to be responsible for producing a laxative effect on the body. Later, it was discovered that decaf coffee does have the same effect. The acidity in coffee can be the reason for this laxative effect.
Both Decaf and regular coffee have high acidic levels, which can cause the stomach to secrete more gastric than normal. The stomach empties the contents more frequently into the intestine due to increased acidity. This explains the laxative nature of decaf coffee.
Is Decaf Coffee Better For Your Kidneys?
Decaffeinated coffee is responsible for the increased activity of ecto5’-nucleotidase in the kidney cortex, which, in turn, increases the concentration of adenosine. The ecto5-nucleotidase is the enzyme that improves the metabolic function of the body. Therefore, decaf coffee can improve the kidney’s excretion function.
Is Decaf Tea Better For You Than Decaf Coffee?
Decaf Tea refers to naturally caffeine-free drinks, including herbal tea or tea, which has gone through the process of caffeine removal. The advantage of consuming decaf tea is that it does not lead to insomnia, even if you drink it before going to bed.
Another reason is that it contains high antioxidant levels, which help remove toxins from the body. You can enjoy decaf tea in the form of white tea and green tea without going through the chemical process of decaffeination.
Wrap Up
The best coffee is the coffee you love!
Considering how decaf coffee is essential to start your day with all the positive health effects, it leaves with a question, is decaf coffee a diuretic? The research and comparison with regular coffee pinpoint that decaf coffee is not a diuretic.
Decaf coffee is loaded with various health benefits and protects you from serious diseases. So, if you want to cut down your caffeine intake, you can switch to decaffeinated coffee and enjoy a healthy and energetic life.
Have fun drinking coffee!