Is Decaf Bad For You?
Monica Reinagel, MS, LD/N, CNS
Q. Is decaf coffee safe to drink? I’ve heard that the process they use to take the caffeine out is not healthy.
Answer. Once upon a time, caffeine was removed from coffee beans with solvents that were, indeed, not good for you or for the environment. These days, however, almost all decaffeinated coffee is produced using a Swiss water process or carbon dioxide extraction, both of which are quite harmless. Drinking coffee (both with and without caffeine) offers some health benefits. And for those who tolerate it, caffeine has a few benefits of its own, which I talked about in more detail in a previous podcast on the Benefits of Caffeine.
Image courtesy of Shutterstock
About the Author
Monica Reinagel is a board-certified licensed nutritionist, author, and the creator of one of iTunes’ most highly ranked health and fitness podcasts. Her advice is regularly featured on the TODAY show, Dr. Oz, NPR, and in the nation’s leading newspapers, magazines, and websites. Do you have a nutrition question? Call the Nutrition Diva listener line at 443-961-6206. Your question could be featured on the show.