What are the health benefits of decaffeinated coffee?

More evidence of the health benefits of decaffeinated coffee

The American Heart Association Journal published a study today in which researchers looked at the coffee drinking habits of a large sample of American adults and found that those who drank moderate amounts of coffee, that’s less than 5 cups per day, had a lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease, neurological diseases, type 2 diabetes and even suicide.

The good news for decaf drinkers is that the protective effects were seen equally in both regular and decaf coffee drinkers, which suggests that it's not just caffeine that comes with health benefits, but actually the naturally occurring chemical compounds in coffee.

"Previous studies show that chemical compounds in coffee beans reduce insulin resistance and systematic inflammation," the study's first author, Dr. Ming Ding said. "This may account for the inverse association between coffee and mortality."

Sounds like a sensible logical observation! Ding and the team analyzed data on three large ongoing studies with a total of almost 168,000 women and over 40,000 men in which the participants were asked about their coffee drinking habits over a thirty year period.

Every four years, they researchers would get in touch with the participants and, during this follow-up period, 19,524 women and 12,432 men died from a range of causes. Interestingly, the researchers found that people who regularly drank coffee were more likely to be smokers and drink alcohol.

So, in order, to study the effects of coffee drinking, they repeated their analysis among people who had never smoked and found the health benefits of drinking coffee, both regular and decaffeinated coffee, on risk of death from chronic diseases was even more pronounced.

On the benefits of drinking decaf, the researchers pointed out that highly caffeinated drinks are not for everyone and certain populations, like pregnant women and children, should limit their intake, so decaf is an ideal option for people who care about their long term health, though it must be said that extras like milk, syrups and sugar are not always very good for health!

"If people use a lot of sugar and cream, particularly if they decide on the basis of these findings to have an extra cup or two of coffee per day, they are adding calories in the form we do not recommend,"the study said.

"In that case they should consider ramping down slowly, either decreasing the amount of sugar they add or shifting to a non-nutrient sweetening, and gradually shifting from cream to lower fat milk, or using less."

Can decaf coffee help weight loss?

The short answer is, yes. Both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee can play a role in helping people to lose weight as well as reduce the risk of adult-onset diabetes according to a number of medical studies.

The long answer is as follows...

Coffee actually contains a wealth of naturally-occurring compounds including several classes of antioxidants known to have a preventive factor against mild depression, Parkinson’s disease, and colon and rectal cancers.

But, this new study now points out that some compounds in coffee also help to and enable steady weight loss, regulate blood glucose and reduce fat production.

These compounds that are responsible for the weight-controlling effects of coffee are antioxidants known as the chlorogenic acids, which appear to slow the production of glucose in the body after a meal, by modifying the activity of certain enzymes in the liver.

In addition, the chlorogenic acids cause a more slow and sustained release of glucose into the body after eating, thereby reducing the production of new fat cells.

So, it stands to reason and research, that it would be sensible to drink a caffeinated or decaffeinated meal after a meal. This will cause a suppression of glucose production and release, as well as causing the body to produce more gastric juices, which of course aids digestion.

For example, the Phytothérapie scientific French reported a clinical review, which demonstrated fat-reducing effects of a green (non-roasted) coffee bean extract.

One group was given 400 mg of decaffeinated green coffee extract daily whilst the second group was given a placebo.

After 60 days, participants who received the decaffeinated green coffee extract had lost 5.7 % of their initial weight, and the group that had received a placebo had lost 2.8 %of their initial weight.

This shows a steady decrease in weight as a result of the use of green coffee extract. Furthermore, since the extract was decaffeinated, the weight loss does not appear to be connected with the calorie-burning effect noted with caffeine.

Gaining weight can sometimes be indicative of a danger of getting Type 2 Diabetes. And here too, decaf coffee, can act as a preventive factor in type 2 diabetes.

The Annals of Internal Medicine Journal from Harvest University found that drinking coffee – caffeinated or decaffeinated - daily reduces the risk of the disease.  Likewise, the American Medical Association Journal discovered that regular coffee consumption is associated with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Health News – huge new study points to decaffeinated coffee’s important health benefits

Rejoice rejoice! Coffee – both caffeinated and decaffeinated – is good for you. At least, this is what a large UK study suggests following a recent report by the UK BioBank, as published in the respected JAMA Internal Medicine Journal.

So, what was this study all about?

The scientists tracked the coffee lifestyle of 500,000 UK citizens between the ages of 38 and 73 from 2006 to 2016. They asked them how many cups of coffee they drank per day, including whether it was decaffeinated, ground roast coffee or instant coffee.

And was the results of the study?

This new data suggest that a cup a day — or two or four or eight — may well be good for you.

In short, you had a lower chance of dying during the 10 years the study examined.

The respondents who drank eight cups or more per day saw their death rates cut by 14 percent, and it was raised to 16 percent among those who drank six to seven cups.

And what about decaf vs caffeinated?

The good news is that decaffeinated coffee was just as effective as the caffeinated stuff to help reduce the death rate chances.

'Coffee drinking was inversely associated with mortality, including among those drinking eight or more cups per day,' said Dr Loftfield, who led the Study. 'These findings suggest the importance of non-caffeine constituents in the coffee-mortality association and provide further reassurance that coffee drinking can be a part of a healthy diet.' 

In fact, it’s recommended to drink more decaf coffee because of caffeine’s jittery effects…Imagine drinking 7 or 8 cups of caffeinated coffee? We’d be climbing the walls!

Better to drink Swiss Water Decaf coffee, which is 99.9% caffeine free and uses water (no chemicals) to decaffeinate our coffees at Decadent Decaf Coffee Company.

Can decaf coffee help fight cellulite and does caffeine cause cellulite?

As we understand it, the key to preventing and reducing cellulite is to keep your fibre content consumption high and be well hydrated, but at the same time, have a calorie controlled diet and consume certain phytochemicals that boost circulation, act as antioxidants, fight fat accumulation, reduce inflammation and stimulate collagen production.

So, can Swiss Water Decaf coffee be part of the solution to help reduce or prevent cellulite?

The answer is potentially yes – as part of a balanced diet with plenty of water.

Decaffeinated coffee, along decaf green tea, contain a huge amount of antioxidants per gram, so they’re like liquid superfoods.

But, surely, caffeinated coffee is the same?

That’s true, caffeinated coffee also has bountiful amounts of antioxidants, but the key is the antioxidants – not the caffeine.

So, there’s only a limited amount of caffeine you should consume every day, hence why Swiss Water decaf coffee is the best way to feature in a cellulite fighting diet – along with at least 2 litres of water.

There is also some evidence to suggest the caffeine may actually contribute to cellulite by increasing the stress hormone cortisol and, as a diuretic, contributing to water retention. But, much like most things, it’s a lot about moderation of caffeine intake.

Two more scientific studies suggest decaf coffee is good for your health

Latest research this month suggests that decaf coffee extends your life by reducing your risk of death from heart disease, diabetes or even cancer.

The Annals of Internal Medicine published a study, based on stats from 700,000 participants of various racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, which concluded that the more coffee a person drank, the lower his or her risk of early death – whether it was caffeinated or decaffeinated.

The National Cancer Institute, USC and the University of Hawaii examined coffee-drinking habits in 185,855 Americans over sixteen years.

Compared with the 16% of people who didn’t drink coffee at all, those who consumed two or more cups each day were about 18% less likely to have died during the study period.

 In addition, those who drank just one to six cups of coffee per week were 12% less likely to die.

Both of these figures were calculated after taking into account known risk factors for early death, such as smoking (which is often paired with coffee drinking), diet and body mass index. Furthermore, they found no indication that the associations varied by race/ethnicity.

The study then compared coffee drinking with each of the 10 leading causes of death in the U.SA.

The more coffee one drank, decaf or caffeinated, the less likely he or she was to die of heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory disease, stroke, diabetes or kidney disease.

The study also linked coffee drinking to improvements in the body’s liver function, sensitivity to insulin and inflammation.

It must be noted, however, that, coffee apparently had no effect on the risk of dying of influenza or pneumonia, Alzheimer’s disease, accidents or suicide.

The second study mined data from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study to see whether there was a link between coffee and early death among 521,330 people from 10 countries (Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom).

These volunteers were tracked for an average of 16.4 years. The researchers (most of whom were from Europe) found that the top 25% of coffee drinkers in each nation were less likely to die during the study period than their countrymen who shunned coffee altogether.

The critical thing to consider if you are a decaffeinated coffee drinker is this:

Both studies found similar results for people who drank decaffeinated coffee as for people who drank the real thing!

But why?

Well, we’re not completely sure yet.

We do know that the polyphenols found in coffee act as antioxidants, helping cells cope with the damaging effects of molecules called free radicals. Genes related to caffeine metabolism also influence blood pressure and cholesterol.

'The Coffee Lover's Diet' book rates decaffeinated coffee's health benefits

Dr Bob Arnot, an MD Doctor well known for his appearances on US television, including The Today Show, NBC and CBS, has recently published his latest book entitled The Coffee Lover's Diet, in which he analyses the huge body of scientific research and discussion on the health benefits and dangers of coffee, as well as conducting 44 of his own scientific research on coffee in terms of which beans, brands and brews are best for the human body.

So, what does he have to say about decaffeinated coffee?

 “There are amazing decafs that still have high levels of polyphenols,” Dr. Arnot states.

 “What’s most important [in terms of coffees health benefits] is the level of polyphenols,” Dr. Arnot says, explaining that these are powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant-rich micro-nutrients.

Most of Swiss Water Decaf coffee’s health benefits are derived from from the antioxidants effect of the polyphenols contained within the coffee, regardless of whether there is caffeine in it or not.

Coffee is rich in a type of polyphenol called chlorogenic acid, which has similar health and cognition benefits to bioflavonoids, as well as other nutrients including niacin, vitamin E, potassium and magnesium.

Indeed, decaffeinate coffee has more antioxidants than green tea, and even has more antioxidants per serving than blueberries?

Given this information, it starts to make sense that scientists are now suggesting that coffee drinkers live longer.

According the New England Journal of Medicine, coffee consumption is associated with a significant reduction in mortality risk. Men who drank four to five cups of coffee on a daily basis had a 12% lower risk, while women had a 16% lower risk. The crucial fact to consider is that this effect was shown for regular and decaf – people often think it’s the caffeine in coffee that gives it its health boost, but that is not the case.

The bottom line is that decaffeinated coffee is a great way for your body to absorb more polyphenols.

New study suggests coffee helps protect telomere length, but not the caffeine!

Some very interesting research about coffee’s contribution and health benefits to telomere lengths coming out of the United States…

First of all, what are telomeres and why do they matter?

A telomere is a region of repetitive DNA at the end of a chromosome, which protects the end of the chromosome from deterioration.

The telomere shortening mechanism normally limits cells to a fixed number of divisions, and animal studies suggest that this is responsible for aging on the cellular level and sets a limit on lifespans.

Telomeres protect a cell's chromosomes from fusing with each other or rearranging—abnormalities which can lead to cancer—and so cells are normally destroyed when their telomeres are consumed. Most cancers are the result of "immortal" cells which have ways of evading this programmed destruction.

In short, the longer the relative length of the telomeres in your DNA, it indicates the longer you may still have to live.

According to Larry Tucker, of Brigham Young University in the US, who published this study recently in Nutrition & Metabolism, coffee can help protect telomere length, but caffeine is not the answer and can be detrimental to telomere length. For more information on the detailed study, please visit:

https://nutritionandmetabolism.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12986-017-0162-x

The Study’s findings suggest that the more caffeine the participants consumed, the shorter their telomeres Tucker discovered after filtering out the effect of age and other factors.

Yet, coffee itself had an opposite effect on telomere length. The more coffee the participants drank, the longer their telomeres were.

Tucker's study suggests that, for coffee drinkers, caffeine from sources other than coffee such as energy drinks, supplements and cola - is just as unhealthy as it is for non-coffee drinkers.

This means that the telomeres in coffee drinkers were shorter the more caffeine they consumed from other non-coffee sources.

It suggests that coffee itself has beneficial properties to telomere length, but it is more down to coffee’s other compounds (not the caffeine!).

The Study notes:

"Caffeine intake is pervasive throughout much of the world," writes Tucker. "It has been linked to a number of beneficial and detrimental health consequences. Unfortunately, much of the epidemiologic research on the effects of caffeine has focused on coffee intake, not caffeine."

"The present study, which investigated the relationships between caffeine and coffee intakes and telomere length, shows that as caffeine intake increases, telomeres tend to be shorter in U.S. adults. On the other hand, this investigation indicates that as coffee intake increases, telomeres tend to be longer."

"Because telomere length is a biomarker of the senescence of cells, the present findings suggest that cell aging may be accelerated in U.S. adults as caffeine intake increases, but may be decelerated as coffee consumption increases. Given the magnitude and importance of these relationships, additional research is warranted.”

Final thoughts…

This Study is certainly not the final word on coffee’s health benefits for telomere length, but perhaps a call to action for more research on this fascinating and beneficial avenue for improvement of heath.

News: Decaffeinated coffee can lower high blood pressure naturally and help hypertension

Decaf coffee has been in the news again. This time, in The Express Newspaper last month, in which the paper details how decaffeinated coffee can lower high blood pressure naturally and help hypertension.

But, first of all what is high blood pressure and hypertension? And why is it important?

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can be monitored and measured in two ways:

1. The systolic pressure (the higher number) which indicates the force at which your heart pumps blood around the body.
2. The diastolic pressure (the lower number) which records the resistance to the blood flow in the blood vessels.

Generally speaking, high blood pressure is considered to be 140/90mmHg or higher.

Unfortunately, high blood pressure rarely has noticeable symptoms but can leave you at risk of heart attacks, heart disease, strokes and kidney disease. The condition is called hypertension.

So, how can decaf coffee help lower high blood pressure naturally and help hypertension?

Well, first of all, if you’re drinking decaf coffee, then you’re reducing your caffeine intake.

And that’s important because research carried out by Duke University Medical Center revealed that caffeine consumption of 500mg increased blood pressure by 4mmHg, and that effect lasted for many hours.

The thing is that caffeine can raise blood pressure by tightening blood vessels and by magnifying the effects of stress. In short, the heart reacts to caffeine by pumping more blood and boosting blood pressure.

It’s easy to say “stop drinking caffeinated drinks then”! But, in reality, it’s not as easy as that. Caffeine is everywhere and it’s a habitual part of our lives.

Part of the solution can be to switch to decaffeinated coffee and still enjoy freshly roasted coffee – without the caffeine, but all of the taste.

Science: Decaffeinated Coffee May Protect Brain Health & Reduce Cognitive Decline

According a study recently published in the scientific medical journal, Frontiers in Neuroscience, a new study points toward further research that coffee, including decaffeinated coffee, can protect the brain including protecting again Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. And yes, decaf coffee, can be just effective as caffeinated coffee – according to this study.

Results from previous research suggest that coffee compounds could provide a neuroprotective effect by inhibiting proteins from forming the terminally disruptive clumps and tangles found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients for example.

The study posed the following question:

“Why has previous research found that coffee consumption correlates with lower risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s?”

According to lead study author Dr Donald Weaver of the Brembil Brain Institute in Toronto Canada, “We wanted to investigate why that is—which compounds [in coffee] are involved and how they may impact age-related cognitive decline."

The research team decided to study several compounds (including caffeine) released during the roasting process in three types of coffee beans as follows:

• caffeinated dark roast
• caffeinated light roast
• decaffeinated dark roast.

The analysis focused on how the compounds interact with amyloid beta and tau, the toxic proteins linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

Then, the researchers examined phenylindanes that form during the roasting process and give coffee its bitterness. More than any other compound of those examined in this study, the research team found that the phenylindanes inhibit both amyloid beta and tau under laboratory conditions. In short, phenylindanes are a dual inhibitor.

Phenylindane are present in both caffeinated and decaf coffee and could be central to its neuroprotective effects.

This was a lab study that examined the interaction of coffee compounds with toxic proteins outside the body.

So, therefore, the next step is to find out if the same results turn up in human subjects once ingested.

While the results aren't yet conclusive, the research is an important starting point to investigate how these compounds interact with proteins responsible for such degenerative diseases.

It is vital to point out that the researchers were careful to note that coffee is not a cure for these diseases, but that they are beneficial in warding off cognitive decline.

Science: Study suggests decaf and caffeinated coffee consumption can reduced risk of rectal cancer

According to researchers at University of Southern California (USC), both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee can potentially decreases the risk of colorectal cancer.

In April 2016, the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center of Keck Medicine department of the University of Southern California examined:

- 5,100 men and women diagnosed with colorectal cancer

- 4000 men and women with no history of colorectal cancer as a control group

The scientists studied:

• Their daily consumption of espresso, instant, decaffeinated and/or filtered coffee
• Their total consumption of other liquids#
• Information about many other factors e.g. family history of cancer, diet, physical activity and smoking

What were the results?

The results showed that all coffee consumption was linked with reduced risks of colorectal cancer:

-  1-2 servings of caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee a day - 26 percent reduction in the odds of developing colorectal cancer even after adjusting for known risk factors.

- 2.5 servings or more caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee a day - 50 percent reduction in the odds of developing colorectal cancer even after adjusting for known risk factors.

What were the conclusions of the study?

"We found that drinking coffee is associated with lower risk of colorectal cancer, and the more coffee consumed, the lower the risk… We were somewhat surprised to see that caffeine did not seem to matter” said Stephen Gruber, MD, PhD, MPH, director of the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center.

"The levels of beneficial compounds per serving of coffee vary depending on the bean, roast and brewing method…the good news is that our data presents a decreased risk of colorectal cancer regardless of what flavor or form of coffee you prefer", said first author Stephanie Schmit, PhD.

Why & how does decaf or caffeinated coffee help reduce the risk?

Coffee contains many elements that contribute to overall colorectal health and may explain the preventive properties as follows:

• Caffeine and polyphenol can act as antioxidants, limiting the growth of potential colon cancer cells
• Melanoidins generated during the roasting process have been hypothesized to encourage colon mobility
• Diterpenes may prevent cancer by enhancing the body's defence against oxidative damage

Science: Decaffeinated coffee reduces effect on Gastroesophageal Reflux  (GERD) compared with caffeinated coffee

Before we start with this article, what is Gastroesophageal Reflux?

Gastroesophageal Reflux, or GERD, is a digestive disorder that occurs when acidic stomach juices, or food and fluids back up from the stomach into the esophagus, which can affect people of all age and can be more prevalent for people with asthma.

Does caffeinated coffee and decaffeinated coffee affect Gastroesophageal Reflux?

There has been some research on this as published in Aliment Pharmacol Therapy papers in 1994 by Wendl, Pfeiffer, Pehl, Schmidt and Kaess.

Their central premise was:

• Coffee and tea are believed to cause gastro-oesophageal reflux, but the effects of these beverages and of their major component, caffeine, have not been quantified.
• So, the aim of this study was to evaluate gastro-oesophageal reflux induced by coffee and tea before and after a decaffeination process, then to compare it with water and water-containing caffeine.

How did they investigate?

The study went as follows:

• Three-hour ambulatory pH-metry was performed on 16 healthy volunteers, who received 300 ml of:

• Regular coffee, decaffeinated coffee or tap water
• Normal tea, decaffeinated tea, tap water, or coffee adapted to normal tea in caffeine concentration
• Caffeine-free and caffeine-containing water (n = 8) together with a standardized breakfast.

What was the results of the study?

• Regular coffee induced a significant gastro-oesophageal reflux compared with tap water and normal tea, which were not different from each other.
• Decaffeination of coffee significantly diminished gastro-oesophageal reflux, whereas decaffeination of tea or addition of caffeine to water had no effect.
• Coffee adapted to normal tea in caffeine concentration significantly increased gastro-oesophageal reflux.

So what were the conclusions?

• Caffeinated coffee, in contrast to tea, increases gastro-oesophageal reflux.
• The reflux effect was much less pronounced after decaffeination.
• Caffeine does not seem to be responsible for gastro-oesophageal reflux.

Is decaf coffee Keto Diet friendly?

We’ve recently had several customers writing in to enquire if our decaf coffee was keto friendly. To be absolutely honest, we’d never heard of this new trend that’s very popular in North America and seemingly coming over to our shores.

So, what is the Keto Diet?

Standing for Ketogenic Diet, the Keto Diet is “a very low-carb, high-fat diet that shares many similarities with the Atkins and low-carb diets. It involves drastically reducing carbohydrate intake and replacing it with fat.

This reduction in carbs puts your body into a metabolic state called ketosis. When this happens, your body becomes incredibly efficient at burning fat for energy. It also turns fat into ketones in the liver, which can supply energy for the brain.

Ketogenic diets can cause massive reductions in blood sugar and insulin levels. This, along with the increased ketones, has numerous health benefits.”

Source: Healthline

Fortunately, Keto drinks aren't limited to water – tea and coffee are allowed.

So, is decaffeinated coffee Keto Diet friendly?

The answer is, yes, you can consume both caffeinated and decaf coffee on the Keto Diet.

What kinds of decaffeinated coffees can you drink on the Keto Diet?

Keto-friendly decaf coffee comes in a range of options:

• Simple black coffee (e.g espresso, americano, and iced coffee, which contain zero calories and carbs),
• Coffee with cream - boosts its fat content as part of the Keto Diet. Not milk though!
• Lattes – use unsweetened coconut milk or unsweetened almond milk, for decaf lattes or cappuccinos.
• Dairy free, sugar-free pumpkin spice decaf latte – use coconut milk and add cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
• Keto decaf mocha – use coconut oil and unsweetened cocoa powder.

Can decaffeinated coffee help with lowering ATL Levels?

First of all, what is ALT?

ALT stands for Alanine Aminotransferase, which is an enzyme in the liver. These enzymes help the body carry out chemical reactions in the liver and improve liver function.

ALT is therefore important for filtering toxins from the blood, producing bile and storing nutrients.

However, damage or inflammation of the liver causes the liver to release these crucial enzymes into the bloodstream, which can lead to elevated levels of ALT in the body (through blood tests)

Therefore, elevated levels in the bloodstream can be an indicator of liver damage, so lowering ALT levels is very important in this situation.

There are various important lifestyle changes, such as reducing alcohol consumption (an obvious one!), having a healthy diet and regular exercise.

But, can decaf coffee help with lowering ATL Levels?

The answer is potentially yes!

Drinking caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee appears to lower ALT levels.

“Inverse associations of total and decaffeinated coffee with liver enzyme levels in National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999‐2010” Report, published in Hepatology Volume 60, Issue 6, detailed that drinking a cup or more of coffee each day, whether it was caffeinated or decaffeinated, reduces ALT levels. Indeed, it’s final conclusion wrote: “Conclusion: Higher intakes of coffee, regardless of its caffeine content, were associated with lower levels of liver enzymes”.

Another study of 200,000 people from California and Hawaii analysed the risk of liver cancer and chronic liver disease between coffee drinkers and non-coffee-drinkers – and found that:

• People who drank 2–3 cups of coffee each day had a 38% lower risk of liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) and 46% lower risk of death from chronic liver disease, compared to non-coffee-drinkers!
• Those who drank 4 or more cups of coffee a day had a 41% lower risk of liver cancer and 71% lower risk of dying from chronic liver disease.

But why?

This is still a much discussed question and we do not have all the answers…

Is it the caffeine in coffee that has liver protecting properties? Possible not given decaffeinated coffee appears to give similar benefits.

Or is it down to the antioxidants in coffee?

Or is there another reason?

Either way, this is very promising news for us all!

Important note: People should treat any causes of elevated ALT, such as liver damage or diabetes, with the help and advice of a medical professional. This blog is not medical advice and should not be treated as such. This blog is simply focusing on all news coming out about decaffeinated coffee and caffeine.

Science: Decaffeinated Coffee May Protect Brain Health & Reduce Cognitive Decline

According a study recently published in the scientific medical journal, Frontiers in Neuroscience, a new study points toward further research that coffee, including decaffeinated coffee, can protect the brain including protecting again Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. And yes, decaf coffee, can be just effective as caffeinated coffee – according to this study.

Results from previous research suggest that coffee compounds could provide a neuroprotective effect by inhibiting proteins from forming the terminally disruptive clumps and tangles found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients for example.

The study posed the following question:

“Why has previous research found that coffee consumption correlates with lower risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s?”

According to lead study author Dr Donald Weaver of the Brembil Brain Institute in Toronto Canada, “We wanted to investigate why that is—which compounds [in coffee] are involved and how they may impact age-related cognitive decline."

The research team decided to study several compounds (including caffeine) released during the roasting process in three types of coffee beans as follows:

• caffeinated dark roast
• caffeinated light roast
• decaffeinated dark roast.

The analysis focused on how the compounds interact with amyloid beta and tau, the toxic proteins linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

Then, the researchers examined phenylindanes that form during the roasting process and give coffee its bitterness. More than any other compound of those examined in this study, the research team found that the phenylindanes inhibit both amyloid beta and tau under laboratory conditions. In short, phenylindanes are a dual inhibitor.

Phenylindane are present in both caffeinated and decaf coffee and could be central to its neuroprotective effects.

This was a lab study that examined the interaction of coffee compounds with toxic proteins outside the body.

So, therefore, the next step is to find out if the same results turn up in human subjects once ingested.

While the results aren't yet conclusive, the research is an important starting point to investigate how these compounds interact with proteins responsible for such degenerative diseases.

It is vital to point out that the researchers were careful to note that coffee is not a cure for these diseases, but that they are beneficial in warding off cognitive decline.