Decaf is Not Caffeine Free

For many Canadians, the day hasn’t started until they’ve had a cup of coffee. Happily, there’s good evidence that a small amount of caffeine may be good for you – increasing alertness, raising the body’s metabolism and increasing muscle strength. However, while a little caffeine can be a good thing, too much can produce a range of unpleasant symptoms, including jitteriness, irritability, anxiety, nausea, headache, heartburn, high blood pressure, muscle tension and irregular heartbeat, which is why many caffeine-sensitive people switch to decaffeinated coffee.

Decaffeinated coffee is coffee where the caffeine has been removed using either a water- or solvent-based extraction method. Regardless of the extraction method used, only 97% of caffeine can be removed, so decaffeinated coffee is not completely caffeine free. In fact, a 16-ounce (454-gram) cup of decaf can contain anywhere from 8 to 14 milligrams of caffeine.

While decaf is a good choice for those looking to limit their caffeine intake, it’s not a ticket to unlimited coffee consumption. In fact, drinking more than fi ve cups of decaf delivers the caffeine equivalent of a regular cup of coffee. So, if you’re sensitive to caffeine, switch to decaf (or herbal tea) but stick to a single cup.