Did you think drinking coffee is unhealthy? Well, this and many such myths may prevent you from enjoying a cup of your favorite coffee. Buzzle debunks a few of the common ones.
Coffee is, undoubtedly, the most widely consumed beverage in the world. Yet, not many people are aware of its health benefits, and some even believe that it causes more harm than good. Needless to say, the many myths surrounding this delightful beverage only make things worse. While it is difficult to trace the origin of these myths, knowing the truth behind them certainly helps.
This article tackles many of the most common myths that are prevalent out there, and uncovers the truth behind each one of them. So, are you ready to debunk the myths about coffee?
Myth : Drinking coffee is bad for you!
Fact: The fact is that, while the relatively high caffeine content in coffee can adversely affect your health, there are other compounds in the same cup of coffee that can provide a whole lot of health benefits. Not missing out on your regular cup of coffee can reduce your chances of developing Parkinson’s Disease, liver cirrhosis, diabetes, and even colon cancer. What’s more, the antioxidants in coffee fight cell damage, and reduce the risk of heart disease. Coffee also improves your concentration, and helps you remember things. The bottom line is that you should not consume too much coffee, just 3-4 cups a day should be fine.
Myth : Coffee promotes dehydration!
Fact: This myth stems from the fact that the caffeine in coffee is a mild diuretic. A diuretic promotes production of urine or loss of fluid in excess of the volume ingested. However, research has proven that caffeine, if consumed in moderation, does not lead to dehydration. You can safely consume 3 to 4 cups of coffee a day. Also, remember to drink a lot of water to balance out the loss of fluid.
Myth : Decaffeinated coffee has no caffeine!
Fact:Many people believe that if they are going for a cup of decaffeinated coffee, they are consuming no caffeine. This is not the truth, because decaffeinated coffee has most of its caffeine content removed, but not all of it. For coffee to qualify as decaffeinated, 97% of its caffeine content should be removed. Hence, even a cup of decaf coffee has a small percentage of caffeine in it.
Myth: Milk low in fat content creates the best textured froth for coffee!
Fact: It is a common belief low fat or skim milk should be used to froth milk with great texture. However, this is not true, because to make coffee that is creamy and appears delicious, you should always use full cream milk. Skim milk is preferred by many because it is easier to froth, as compared to full cream milk. However, if it is a good quality drink you seek, which looks and tastes thick and luscious, then you should opt for full cream milk.
Myth : Coffee increase stress levels.
Fact: Many people claim drinking a few cups of coffee leaves them stressed out. This is because the caffeine in coffee blocks the production of adenosine in the body. Since adenosine is a stress reliever, a person who drinks too much coffee might experience increased levels of stress. However, coffee in itself does not trigger stress levels.
Myth : Espresso has more caffeine than regular coffee.
Fact: It’s a fairly common belief that the caffeine content of espresso coffee is higher than that of drip coffee. Drip coffee is a slower process of brewing coffee than espresso, which means the time for which the water comes in contact with the coffee beans is higher in case of the former. The longer contact time translates to a higher amount of caffeine extracted from the coffee beans during the making of drip coffee.