Decaf Coffee Labels; Full of Beans?
A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Florida shows that nearly all decaffeinated coffee contains some amount of caffeine. So if your morning cup still leaves you feeling a little buzzed chances are it’s not just your imagination. The study tested the caffeine levels in 10 16-oz drip-brewed, decaf coffee beverages from nine local coffeehouses or national chains. The analysis indicated that only one decaffeinated coffee tested contained no caffeine, and that coffee was instant decaffeinated Folgers Coffee Crystals. The nine remaining decaffeinate coffees tested contained some level of caffeine ranging from 8.6 milligrams to 13.9 milligrams.
Typically an 8-oz cup of drip-brewed coffee contains approximately 85 milligrams of caffeine, so decaf is definitely a dramatic reduction in the amount of caffeine per cup compared to regular coffee. But for people with health concerns such as kidney disease, hypertension, migraines or anxiety disorders who are advised to cut caffeine consumption this should be a concern. Although a cup of decaffeinated coffee gives you no more of a buzz than a cup of herbal tea it’s important to know what you’re really feeding your body, even if it is a little caffeine.
It might explain why you’ve been lying awake at night, tossing and turning, after you’ve enjoyed a nice cuppa decaf coffee with dessert.
