ing to studies conducted by researcher Dr. Giulio Maria Pasinetti, a resident professor of neurology and psychiatry at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, there are health benefits from drinking decaffeinated coffee.He particularly conducted research on how decaf coffee can help treat and prevent mental decline.
Substances that make coffee healthy
Coffee beans contain substances that contribute to its taste, color, and aroma, some of which were tested to establish if they indeed have health benefits. Caffeic acid is part of the phenol class of chemicals in coffee. Phenols have been found to have efficient anti-carcinogenic and anti-oxidant properties. Coffee also contains chlorogenic acid which is known to minimize glucose production in the liver, thus preventing the occurrence of hyperglycemic peak after ingestion of foods with high sugar content.
While coffee has been found to have some health benefits like prevention of some forms of cancer and diabetes, the caffeine it contains still poses a risk of triggering heart diseases.
The study reveals that decaf coffee can prevent mental decline as a result of the aging process and some illnesses. Results show that decaf coffee enhances sugar metabolism or the breakdown of sugar into energy. Patients suffering from Type 2 Diabetes suffer from mental decline because of the reduced sugar metabolism in the brain. This is also observed in patients who have Alzheimer's disease.
Decaffeination
The process of decaffeination will leave cafestrol in the coffee beans. This substance enhances the production of bile acids and is known to have potent anti-inflammatory properties that will benefit the brain. However, decaf coffee still has the same anti-oxidant properties of regular coffee.
The health benefits
• Decaf coffee reduces the risk of incurring diabetes.
The high anti-oxidant levels of decaf will protect the cells from damage that can lead to diabetes. The decaffeination process will not eliminate chlorogenic acid which is the substance that helps regulate blood glucose levels.
• Cancer prevention.
Decaf still contains high levels of anti-oxidants that can prevent conditions associated with the aging process and cancer. Studies show that regular decaf drinkers have reduced risks of incurring colon cancer. For female drinkers, the risks of breast cancer are also reduced.
• Decreased risk of heart problems.
Caffeine has been linked to heart conditions like irregular palpitations, heart attacks, and strokes. Since it has been removed, drinkers are less likely to develop any heart conditions.
• Prevention of mental decline due to old age and Alzheimer's disease.
The polyphenols found in coffee beans are not lost during the decaffeination process. These substances are responsible in boosting the brain's cognitive abilities, thus further improving memory.
These health benefits of decaf coffee cannot be dismissed as mere theories because proofs have been established with the studies that have been conducted. It may not be able to perk anyone up as effectively as regular coffee, but it will ensure good health and long life.
