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Decaf with a kick
Decaffeinated coffee may not be all it seems, says a US study
Coffee drinkers who switch to decaf may still be getting more of the stimulant than they bargained for.
A new study by researchers at The University of Florida reveals that almost all 'decaffeinated' coffee contains some caffeine.
Researchers purchased 10 decaffeinated drip-brewed coffee beverages from nine national chains or local coffee houses and tested them for caffeine content. They found that most samples contained 5 to 8 per cent of the amount of caffeine found in ordinary coffee.
Even small amounts of caffeine can increase agitation, anxiety, heart rate and blood pressure in some susceptible individuals.
The authors concluded that people should be aware that decaffeinated coffee is not the same as 'caffeine free'.
People who are sensitive to the stimulant or whose doctors have recommended avoiding caffeine for medical reasons should therefore be very careful with their consumption of decaffeinated drinks.
In the UK, 80 per cent of adults drink coffee every week. It's not the only beverage to contain caffeine, but it does contain the most.
Caffeine acts as a stimulant to the heart and central nervous system and has been linked with a number of the risk factors for coronary heart disease, including increased blood pressure and high blood cholesterol levels.
However, there is no evidence that drinking coffee will make you more likely to develop coronary heart disease.
It's difficult to suggest a safe limit for coffee intake because of the huge variation in caffeine content of different brands and an individual's sensitivity to the drug. However, people with high blood pressure may be wise to keep their caffeine intake to a minimum.
For the rest of us, drinking moderate amounts of coffee may actually be beneficial to health. Early research has found that coffee may reduce the risk of developing gallstones, kidney stones and colorectal cancer.
Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.
