Toxin Tips: Are You Really Drinking Healthy Coffee?

You may be feeling a bit smug as you drink your afternoon pick-me-up since you know you are ingesting yummy antioxidants that have been recently touted as “healthy.” But wait. There is more to the coffee debate that needs to be considered before you can feel confident that the hot beverage you slurp is, in fact, healthy. Is coffee healthy?

The first issue to consider when determining if your favorite coffee is truly healthy is the kind and amount of pesticides used in the growing process.

Coffee beans are a food crop with one of the highest levels of pesticides used, and although the U.S. has banned many pesticides that were formally used, many countries do not have these bans in place. Many developing countries produce coffee beans that are then purchased by big U.S. coffee companies, such as Starbucks. Since the U.S. can’t control the pesticides used in other countries, ones that have been banned here, such as Chlorpyrifos, could be contaminating your coffee. Chlorpyrifos is a contact poison known to cause human deaths and is extremely toxic to wildlife. Overall, increased exposure to pesticides is associated with birth defects, nerve damage, and cancer.

Ochratoxin A is produced by two fungi and can be found in foodstuffs, including coffee.

It’s difficult to determine how much of these fungi might be attached to the beans that made your favorite brew since coffee bean companies determine for themselves how long their beans sit around before being roasted. This means there are various levels of the toxic mold found on beans, and since the U.S. does not currently censor the amount of ochratoxin A permitted in foodstuffs, it is almost impossible to know how much of it you may be consuming. Scientific evidence proves it is neurotoxic, immunosuppressive, genotoxic, and carcinogenic.  Ochratoxin A damages kidneys in mammals, acutely if ingested long-term. Whereas the European Union has established limitations on the amount of Ochratoxin A that is permitted in food sold there, the U.S. has not. Many are concerned that contaminated beans are being shipped to the U.S. where they end up making up our cup of Joe. While many high-end retailers claim they are unconcerned about the amount of Ochratoxin A in their coffee beans due to the process they use, we must take them at their word.

Acrylamide is a chemical used mainly in certain industrial processes, such as in making paper, dyes, and plastics, and in treating drinking water and wastewater, but it is also found in coffee beans, especially in dark roasts.

Acrylamide is formed when starchy foods are cooked at high temperatures, causing a chemical reaction between sugars and the amino acid asparagine. The longer the roasting time and the higher the temperature, the more acrylamide is formed in the food. For this reason, it is best to drink lighter roast coffees since there is less acrylamide naturally formed in them.  While the clinical trials on humans are inconclusive, acrylamide has caused cancer in lab animals. The American Cancer Society supports continued research on the chemical to determine its safety for human consumption.

So what is a coffee snob to do?

If you don’t want to give up your coffee in lieu of an alternative, you should do some research on various organic coffees available to find the safest one for you and your family. Of course, the taste will also be a factor as well, so you may need to try a few different varieties before deciding on the one you want to stick with. But overall, the time is well spent, since the effects on your health could be long-lasting.

I personally drink mushroom coffee. I know that sounds pretty wild! I will tell you a bit more about WHY I love this stuff. I am very sensitive to caffeine, it gives me a lift and then sends me to the moon. Anxiety often sets in a few hours after I drink coffee. But, being a Mom of three small children, I would drink it anyway. Then I found this awesome mushroom coffee, and I can drink it without the extreme coffee buzz or the anxiety. I have been drinking it every day since. The adaptogenic properties in the mushrooms help balance the stress response. It truly is amazing stuff! If you want to give it a try for yourself, visit THIS PAGE. Click on the “See All Products” in the middle of the page to get to the coffee. You won’t be disappointed! Use coupon code “REALFOODRN” to get 10% off your order.

P.S. You can also see the full line of coffees and all of the products and pricing HERE.

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