Try to imagine the INSANITY that led to this moment.
There’s a chemical out there called methylene chloride. It’s so dangerous that last year the EPA banned it from paint-stripping products aimed at consumers. Yet that very same chemical is still allowed to be in your coffee.
But don’t panic. You don’t have to give up your morning cup of Joe just yet. Because I’m going to share with you exactly…
- WHAT it is
- WHY it’s there
- WHERE it’s found
More importantly, I’ve got something else for you. And that is…
- HOW to avoid it!
So go ahead and get the pot brewing while I give you the inside scoop.
Paint stripping chemical found in decaf coffee
If it’s regular coffee in that pot, I have some great news. This chemical scare doesn’t affect you. But if it’s decaf coffee you’re about to drink, you might want to hold off on that first sip for a few minutes.
The problem isn’t the decaf coffee itself. It’s with the process that removes the caffeine in many decaf brands.
Because some companies use that same solvent that I told you was banned from paint-stripping products to strip the caffeine out of those beans.
And sure, it will REMOVE the jitter juice. But it can leave BEHIND traces of that dangerous chemical, which has been linked to cancer, blood disorders, and developmental problems.
Now you’re not going to find methylene chloride listed on the label of your decaf coffee, of course, since it’s not an “ingredient.” That means most consumers will never have a clue that it’s there.
But tests on 25 common decaf coffee brands found traces of methylene chloride in at least 10 of them.
The good news is that decaf from several major brands passed the test, including Starbucks, Dunkin’, Folgers, Illy, and Target’s Archer Farms house brand. They all came back with no detectable levels of methylene chloride.
The bad news? Some popular and common brands… including many house brands… flunked the test.
Costco’s Kirkland and Maxwell House decaf coffee, for example, had between 50-89 parts per billion, while Walmart’s Great Value, Kroger, and AmazonFresh, just to name a few, had even higher levels.
How to avoid this chemical in your coffee
You can google the “Clean Label Project” for more details before your next shopping trip. But before you do, answer just one question: Why do you drink decaf?
If the answer is because you think it’s healthier, it’s time to wake up and… well… smell the fully loaded, turbo-charged, completely caffeinated coffee. Because decaf coffee is NOT better for your health.
All coffee – regular and decaf – has healthy minerals and essential vitamins, including the niacin that helps keep your blood vessels open for business.
But many of the benefits of coffee… including heart and brain protection… come specifically from the caffeine. And when you drink decaf coffee, you’re missing out.
Of course, some people don’t drink decaf because they think it’s healthier. It’s because they have no other choice. Some folks are sensitive to it, and others may be on meds or have health conditions that mean they can’t have caffeine.
If you’re in one of those categories, there IS a way to get a delicious morning mug of decaf coffee with at least some of the benefits… and NONE of the risks. Look for coffee made with a water-based decaf method such as the Swiss Water Process.
You know how decaf coffee kind of tastes a little off? It’s not your imagination. Most decaf processes strip the compounds that provide some of the flavor along with the caffeine. But water-based methods, especially the Swiss Water Process, don’t.
There is a small downside. It costs a little more. But in my opinion, a good cup of coffee is worth the price… especially when you get a SAFER mug-of-mud, too.
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