Is Decaffeinated Coffee good for you?

I love the aroma of a freshly brewed cup of coffee, but unfortunately my body cannot tolerate the high content of caffeine found in 1 cup of regular, black coffee. So I was wondering if I should consider drinking the decaf alternative instead? What are the benefits and side effects of decaffeinated coffee?

Decaffeinated Coffee still contains Caffeine

According to a reputable professor at John Hopkins Medical School, Dr. Roland Griffiths says:

" ... decaffeinated is not the same as caffeine-free ... popular decaffeinated espresso drinks such as lattes (which contain two shots of espresso) can deliver as much caffeine as a can of Coca-Cola -- about 31 milligrams."

Antioxidants are diminished during extraction processes

During the decaffeination extraction process, the phytochemical structure of the coffee beans is chemically altered, hence most of the antioxidants are weakened compared to the non-decaffeinated beans.



Chemical Solvents used in the Decaffeination process may adversely affect your health


Although is is claimed by the relevant government health authorities (such as FDA) that only trace amounts of methylene chloride (which is a base used in stripping paint) and ethyl acetate (which is a fluid used in dry cleaning) are found after Decaffeination, studies have shown some disturbing links of people who consume decaffeinated coffee to high risks of developing rheumatoid arthritis.

High Acidity content

Decaf coffee is infamous for it's poor flavour as the result of decaffeination. In order to improve on the taste and flavour of decaffeinated beans, companies used Robusta beans instead of the more superior quality Arabica beans as it has higher acidity content. Highly acidic coffee can cause health problems such as inflammation of the bowels and urinary tract, osteoporosis, stomach ulcers and heartburn.




Harmful effects of Decaf Coffee on you Health

• increase the release of stomach acid
• increase in acid reflux
• increased bone loss and osteoporosis caused by high acidity, loss of calcium, magnesium and zinc
• chlorogenic acid prevents effective absorption of iron
• increases LDL cholesterol, fatty acids and apolipoprotein B (cause plaques and vascular disease)
• increases risks of heart attacks
• increases risks of developing glaucoma, vision deterioration.

References:

http://www.coffeeresearch.org/science/decaffeination.htm
http://teeccino.com/building_optimal_health/39183/Decaf-Coffee-And-Health.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipoprotein
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_caffeine_coffee