There are a lot of purported benefits of alkaline coffee, from decreasing headaches to preventing Parkinson’s disease. Most of these aren’t backed by scientific studies. But there are some effects such as decreased caffeine content and more sustainable energy, that have very real and very healthy results.
Can coffee be healthy? Maybe. Can it be healthier? Foodies and health aficionados alike are trying the alkaline diet meant to decrease the acid your body intakes. But coffee, an acidic drink, doesn’t fit into this lifestyle.
The new trend of alkaline coffee promises a brew that both tastes good and has more beneficial health effects than your average cup. But is the hype worth it? That’s a difficult question to answer, since not much research has been done into the alkaline diet. First, let’s look at the diet itself, and then examine the science backing potential benefits of alkaline coffee.
Alkaline Diet
So what’s the premise behind alkaline coffee? First, let’s look at the theory and science behind the alkaline diet. The idea is to lower the acid levels in your blood measured by pH. Water, considered to be neutral, has a pH of 7.Â
Levels below 7 are considered acidic, while levels above 7 are alkaline. Acid remnants, or ash. are often waste in the body.
The alkaline diet eats mainly food with a pH of 7 or higher, theoretically reducing acid waste. The benefits of this may include assisting with gastrointestinal issues, weight loss, and reducing the spread of cancer.
How does coffee fit into an alkaline diet? Well, coffee has a pH level of about 5. making it two degrees more acidic than water.
But when brewed with your normal beans in alkaline water, the pH level rises to around 8. This not only adds coffee to the alkaline diet, but has other potential health benefits.
But does the alkaline diet really work? The short answer is: it might. There’s not enough research to really tell us if increasing the pH level of your food can really help flush out toxins.
But what we do know is that sticking to a diet that is largely vegetarian and gluten-free can have other health benefits. With that in mind, let’s take a look at what alkaline coffee can do for you!
Benefits of Alkaline Coffee
There are a lot of purported benefits of alkaline coffee, from decreasing headaches to preventing Parkinson’s disease.
Most of these aren’t backed by scientific studies. But there are some effects, such as decreased caffeine content and more sustainable energy, that have very real and very healthy results.
Alkaline coffee gives you a larger, longer-lasting energy boost than a traditional brew. The alkaline water used to make it contains a large number of phytonutrients, or chemicals from plants.
These provide energy that’s safer than caffeine and lasts a lot longer, helping keep you rejuvenated throughout your day.
The phytonutrients found in alkaline coffee also have other benefits. For example, they’re well-known to contain antioxidants and other nutrients that reduce inflammation and support the immune system. In fact, the United States Department of Agriculture confirms that a diet rich in these nutrients can help lower your risk of getting cancer and heart disease.
Like other coffee, alkaline coffee has many nutrients, including riboflavin magnesium, and potassium. Depending on how much you drink, it can provide a large amount of the United States Federal Drug Admission listed requirements for daily intake.
Unlike coffee with high caffeine levels, alkaline coffee doesn’t cause heart risk, and may even lower blood pressure.
Perhaps the most important benefit of alkaline coffee is that it has fewer negative side effects than your usual cup.
Because it’s not acidic, you’re much less likely to break down your tooth enamel, or to stain it yellow. Alkaline coffee also has little to no caffeine which means you’re less likely to have headaches or stomach issues sometimes associated with regular coffee.
Lower amounts of caffeine in your body can also help you concentrate and stay focused. However, it’s important to keep in mind that some people have problems associated with coffee itself, not the caffeine.
In that case, you could experience restlessness or nausea. It’s important to monitor your intake and make sure alkaline coffee really is providing benefits to your specific body
So what doesn’t alkaline coffee do? Well, it doesn’t cure cancer— only lowers your risk, just like regular coffee. It doesn’t help every user lose weight, although it can be part of a healthy diet. Adding alkaline coffee to your daily morning ritual probably won’t provide you with a ton of benefits. But replacing regular coffee with alkaline coffee definitely might.
Alkaline Versus Non-Alkaline Coffee
So alkaline coffee definitely provides health benefits, but how does it compare to other options? After all, can’t you get similar effects from regular old decaf? The short answer is: not quite
Although decaffeinated coffee cuts back on negative effects of caffeine, just like alkaline coffee, decaf is often created by soaking coffee beans in substances such as ethyl acetate, methylene chloride, supercritical carbon dioxide, or activated charcoal all of which can negatively interact with many prescription medications.
The methylene chloride in decaf can even cause headaches or lightheadedness, effects which many people claim go away while drinking alkaline coffee.
Regular coffee has also been known to provide health benefits, according to a 2017 study. Lower risk of cancer can be worth potential problems caused by caffeine, as long as the drinker has under five cups a day (as approved by the Federal Drug Administration).
But it’s important to note that these benefits come from coffee beans themselves, not the process of brewing it. Meaning that alkaline coffee, which is usually brewed with alkaline water over regular beans has the healthy effects of regular coffee and phytonutrient rich alkaline water.
What about coffee substitutes? Alkaline coffee can be brewed with mushrooms, cacao, wheat grass, and more.
While not technically coffee, these ingredients do contain the alkaline-based benefits listed above. They taste good feel good, and help your body— according to most users.
Best Alkaline Coffee
Alkaline coffee comes in many forms, some that aren’t technically coffee! MUD/WTR tastes like coffee, but includes masala chai and cacao for a delicious and long-lasting pick-me-up.
One common alkaline coffee base is Coffea Arabica. or Arabian coffee. Grown primarily in Ethiopia, this ‘mountain coffee” species is known for its unique, elegant flavor and aroma. Not only does it taste better than your regular grocery- store grounds it’s lower in both caffeine and acidity.
Depending on where you live, your local coffee shop may also serve alkaline coffee It trendy or health-centered areas, many smaller shops are expanding their options. Juice bars and sustainably-sourced cafes are also likely to have alkaline coffee.
Making Your Own Alkaline Coffee
It’s not hard to try alkaline coffee at home Use beans specifically prepared to be alkaline, then brew as normal with or without alkaline water. The Alkaline Coffee Company is a good place to find products to help you start your own alkaline coffee journey.
Alternatively, some alkaline coffee is brewed not with real coffee beans, but with substitutes.
For example, chicory root has that same robust flavor as coffee, with absolutely no caffeine or acidity. Sometimes beans can be blended with other substances, such as wheat grass or mushrooms, that have their own phytonutrient benefits.
Once you’ve brewed your coffee, feel free to add creamer or sugar as desired, but keep in mind that not all coffee mix-ins follow the alkaline diet. If you’d like to keep your drink totally acid-free, try using a substitute sweetener such as honey or agave.
Dairy-free creamer can also fall into the alkaline diet, and even be supplemented by phytonutrients, such as whey protein powder. After all, if you’re looking for a healthy alternative to coffee, you might as well go all the way!
Is coffee OK on alkaline diet?
There are many reasons to start an alkaline diet, mainly due to the health benefits that it can bring you – from lowering back pain, reducing kidney stones to helping improve the effects of chemotherapy.
As with all diets, the first thing that comes to mind is “What do I have to GIVE UP?” if coffee is a regular staple on your daily life you might wonder if you have to say goodbye to that particular pleasure that only a good cup of coffee can bring. The answer is MAYBE – if you are willing to adapt…
Switching to cold brew coffee, from regular coffee, will have no negative effect on you alkaline diet, as long as it is in moderation.
Cold brewed coffee has a much lower acidity level than regular coffee, and still has the benefits you usually associate with coffee like antioxidants and metabolic boost. So, have a cup!
Conclusion
Although we still need to do more research into alkaline coffee it’s a delicious easy-to-make drink with helpful benefits.
Helpful side effects can include a decrease in caffeine level, a supported immune system, and more! There are many options for buying alkaline coffee or for making it yourself. Got questions? Feel free to ask in the comments.
So is alkaline coffee bad for you? Definitely not. Good for you? Probably Give it a shot and let us know how it goes.
