Health Benefits of Decaffeinated Coffee

Caffeine consumption is associated with a number of benefits, from increasing mental function to reducing asthma symptoms. However, caffeine intake can also have side effects, including anxiety, restlessness and headaches. As a result, people often choose decaffeinated coffee, which evidence indicates provides a positive effect on overall health.

Gout

Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis caused by a buildup of uric acid in joints. Although it occurs in both males and females, it's predominant in men. Scientists at the University of British Columbia and Harvard Medical School examined the impact of decaffeinated coffee on gout risk in men. They reported in the May 2007 of "Arthritis & Rheumatism" that men drinking four or more cups of decaffeinated coffee per day lowered their risk of developing gout compared to non-coffee drinkers.

Type 2 Diabetes

Drinking decaffeinated coffee might reduce your risk for developing type 2 diabetes, a condition in which your pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin or your cells don't respond to the hormone insulin. Type 2 diabetes can increase your risk for other health problems, including kidney dysfunction, chronic inflammation and heart disease. Scientists at the University of Sidney in Australia reviewed the literature regarding the effects of coffee consumption on type 2 diabetes risk. They found that subjects consuming a higher intake of decaffeinated coffee lowered their risk for type 2 diabetes compared to non-drinkers. The findings were reported in the December 2009 issue of the "Archives of Internal Medicine."

Cardiovascular Disease Mortality

Increasing your intake of decaffeinated coffee might reduce cardiovascular disease mortality, according to a study conducted by researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Scientists discovered that decaffeinated coffee consumption was associated with a small reduction in cardiovascular disease mortality, according to research published in the June 2008 issue of the "Annals of Internal Medicine."

Caution

Decaffeinated coffee is not necessarily caffeine free, according to Science Daily. Scientists at the University of Florida found that decaffeinated coffee does contain some amount of caffeine, which can still produce behavioral effects in the body. Keep this in mind, particularly if you have to reduce your caffeine intake because of a medical condition such as hypertension.