If you love coffee or have an interest in reducing caffeine consumption, you might share similar concerns as the FDA.
Benefiting from Caffeine
At low-to-moderate levels, caffeine consumption is generally safe. To some people the flavor and aroma of a good cup of coffee is enticing. When you’re feeling sluggish, caffeine can temporarily boost your mood. Low doses may heighten the ability to concentrate. Caffeine can also help some migraine medications work better.
Suffering from Too Much Caffeine
High amounts of caffeine can cause unpleasant or dangerous side effects. A minor effect is a harsh breath. Since it’s a diuretic, it can impair hydration or dry out skin. At higher doses, anxiety, insomnia, dizziness, muscle tremors, or elevated heart rate are possible. [1]
With chocolates, colas, energy drinks, teas, and coffees, the ways to consume caffeine are growing. A typical 5-ounce cup of coffee years ago has grown to a minimum of 12 ounces.
Mitigating Caffeine Risks
To counteract negative effects, many people limit consumption to less than 400 mg per day. [1] They might drink more water to offset diuretic effects. Others switch to decaffeinated coffee. But is decaf safer? The answer depends upon the method of caffeine extraction.
Decaffeination processes may utilize water, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, liquid, and supercritical carbon dioxide. [2] Most people would agree that cancer is a worse outcome than any caffeine side effect. It turns out that a popular decaffeination method uses a carcinogen called methylene chloride or dichloromethane. [3]
Industrial uses for this chemical include paint stripping, metal cleaning or decreasing, and aerosol cosmetic products. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns, that in addition to being carcinogenic, methylene chloride can cause other health harms, such as liver toxicity and at higher exposures neurological effects, and in some cases death. [4,5]
So how is this chemical allowable in food? The question facing the FDA is what is an acceptable level of consumption? A longstanding FDA guideline is that the residues of methylene chloride must not exceed 10 parts per million (0.001%) in decaffeinated roasted coffee. OSHA sets atmospheric 10-hour-time-weighted exposure limits to 25 parts per million. [6]
However, with caffeine consumption rising, more studies are necessary to establish whether several cups of supersized iced decaf coffee can exceed carcinogenic limits. The FDA is investigating but that may drag on for several years.
Improving Your Health
In the meantime, there are alternative methods of decaffeination using various methods of soaking, steaming, and filtration. Look for labeling that indicates solvent-free, Swiss Water processed, or certified organic. [7-10] There are also coffee substitutes made from chicory root, figs and barley, cacao, and other natural elements.
While coffee and other caffeinated beverages offer some benefits, like most things, overconsumption can cause unfavorable issues. Healthy people should drink no more than 4 (8-ounce) cups of coffee daily. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should limit their coffee intake to no more than 200 mg per day. Children and young adults should avoid excessive consumption of energy drinks and coffee. [11]
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To support the writing of useful articles about food, ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online. You may sponsor specific articles or remit a small donation.
ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online to offset expense of the writing useful articles about food. Slide extra posters into DeuPair Frames without removing from the wall.
ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online. You may remit a small donation.
You can support the writing of useful articles about food by sponsoring specific articles or remitting a small donation. Visible content is optimized for device size. Story includes one or more generative AI images to help readers visualize scenes.
